The Best Thing I Ever Ate

Some of the best chefs and eaters gobble up their favorite Thanksgiving dishes from America's most amazing restaurants. There's a lot to be thankful for as they share their unique and mouthwatering family traditions. Take a bite of a Korean-inspired Smoked Turkey Leg with Jet Tila in Georgia, join Tabitha Brown in New York for a family-size "personal" mac and cheese, and share a sour Dutch cranberry pie with a Hoosier twist in Chicago with Duff Goldman.

The best gift this holiday season is a festive feast, with no return receipt needed for chefs and food lovers! Unwrap some dumplings in D.C. with Antonia Lofaso, enjoy chestnuts sauteed on an open fire with Michael Voltaggio in Los Angeles, and join Brooke Willamson as she "lox" in on a special treat in New York City.

Shhhhh … it's a secret, unique dish made just for you! Feel like a regular as chefs and food lovers let you in on can't-miss dishes that aren't found on any menu. Covertly share a special request for salted caramel ice cream with Tabitha Brown in New York, follow John Henson's advice to skip the salad and whisper an order for the special Caesar fries instead in Washington, D.C., and get in line early with Duff Goldman in Los Angeles to snag the hottest and crunchiest bagel in America.

Whether it's on the side or cooked right in, the bold flavors of booze bring new levels of terrific taste. Alex Guarnaschelli guzzles down beer-battered cheese curds in Chicago while Jason Smith devours boozy bourbon balls in Kentucky. Plus, in Wisconsin, Elena Besser proclaims her love for chicken Parmesan with vodka sauce.

Anyone can cook pasta, but the perfect pasta dish can take years of practice and dedication. Andrew Zimmern has nothing but praise for a pristine fusilli pasta in New York. Marc Murphy is in love with legendary lasagna in Scottsdale, Ariz., while Geoffrey Zakarian finds perfection in an unbelievable combination of pasta, pears and cheese.

Whether it's baked, fried, boiled or mashed, the potato is here to rescue everyone from hunger. Duff Goldman leaps tall buildings in Los Angeles for a one-of-a-kind poutine. Richard Blais saves the day with potato and cheese pierogis in Portland, Ore., while Andrew Zimmern heads to Asheville, N.C., for a sensational sweet potato pie.

Grab some napkins because things are about to get messy in the best way possible. Alex Guarnaschelli travels to Washington, D.C., for a beer-battered burger sure to leave a mark. Then Antonia Lofaso visits Los Angeles to let loose on the fattest sub sandwich ever imagined while Duff Goldman heads to Arkansas for a deliciously sloppy mess that can't be missed.

These unexpected and delicious food finds are no longer a secret. Robert Irvine is in for the surprise of his life with one-of-a-kind dumplings in Philadelphia. Geoffrey Zakarian is left stunned and speechless by a tropical sundae in New York while Ali Khan uncovers marvelous Mexican food in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Size does matter on these colossal portions that are sure to break the plate. Geoffrey Zakarian visits the heart of New York City for chocolate bread pudding too gigantic to comprehend. Simon Majumdar conquers a behemoth burger in sunny Southern California while Beau MacMillan visits Charleston, S.C., for a life-changing fried chicken platter.

Ditch the kitchen for the most amazing dishes made table side. Anne Burrell gets up close and personal with her favorite prime rib in Chicago. Next, Duff Goldman heads to Southern California for an entire multi-course meal cooked right at the table while Richard Blais goes weak in the knees for an out-of-this-world ice cream made before his very eyes.

Don't be fooled, these one-of-a-kind concoctions and zany mashups are real-deal delicious. Jeff Mauro enjoys a unique caramel-corn pastry treat in Chicago, and Ali Khan gives the low-down on jambalaya served on a stick in Austin, Texas. Plus, Alex Guarnaschelli heads to California for an unforgettable sandwich experience.

Too late for breakfast and too early for lunch means it's time for the biggest and boldest brunches around. Andrew Zimmern heads to his happy place in Houston, Texas, for a remarkable brunch buffet while Anne Burrell says goodbye to hunger in Los Angeles with homemade sausage, eggs and cakes. Then, in Chicago, Jeff Mauro fuels up with an entire meal packed into one giant glass.

Nothing quite matches the incredible taste and aroma of fresh food cooked with an open flame. Marc Murphy chows down on some irresistible charred wings in Rochester, N.Y., while Brad Miller brings the fire with a cognac flambeed pasta in Los Angeles. Plus, Duff Goldman heads to Tulsa for the best grilled steak he's ever eaten.