Guy Fieri is beloved for many reasons—his charisma, his style, his bleached hair—but let's be honest, the dude knows a thing or two when it comes to food. He went on to judge the tv hosts on their go-to lunch recipes, and I learned a couple cooking tips in the process.
Before stepping up to judge the meals, Guy talked a little bit about his upcoming show Tournament of Champions set to premiere next week. In honor of the show, he gave hosts Al Roker, Carson Daly, Hoda Kotb, and Craig Melvin advice about how to level up their lunch meals.
First up was Al who put together a grilled cheese with bacon and caramelized onions. Instead of buttering the outside of the bread before frying, Al used mayo which Guy said is actually a great way to add more of a crusty texture to the bread while butter is more likely to burn.
Then Carson showed Guy how he makes his favorite sandwich using whole wheat bread, a mayo-mustard mix on one side and avocado on the other, plus salami, cheddar, tomato, and arugula. Carson is very detail-oriented and sprinkles a pinch of salt on his tomato and he prepares the arugula with olive oil and pepper before adding it to the sandwich. Guy praised him for this, but suggested frying the salami and toasting the bread to make sure the sandwich can carry all of the heavy toppings.
Hoda made a salad made from cubes of mango, avocado, croutons, and balsamic vinegar. Guy liked the mix of sweet, crunchy, and tangy, but said using jicama would be a healthier option if you wanted to swap out the croutons. I personally have to give her creativity points because she's the only one who didn't make a sandwich!
Finally, Craig made another sandwich but on a brioche bun, including mayo, turkey, cheddar, lettuce, and tomato. It was rather basic, but Guy said brioche is a good, sturdy bun to use for a sandwich. He did say that adding jalapeño would add more flavor, and that turkey sandwich meat is an easy DIY at home—all you have to do is brine and roast a turkey then slice it.
At the end of it all, he chose Carson to be the winner. I learned that mayo can be used outside of a grilled cheese and that I should maybe start preparing my lettuce before putting it on my sandwiches for an added flavor. The segment ended with the cast gifting Guy the key to Flavortown, presented to him in a bacon briefcase. So all is right with the world, and I am now more knowledgable about how to make lunch the best meal of the day. Thanks, Guy!!
