Where (in Alabama) will Guy Fieri go next? How to watch
We now know the next couple of Alabama restaurants that Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” will hit, in two segments coming up Nov. 10 and 17.
Production crews for the Food Network show hit six Mobile restaurants over the summer, and two segments have aired: One on The Noble South in Mobile and another on Southwood Kitchen in Daphne.
On Friday, Nov. 10, an episode titled “Meaty to Meatless” makes its debut. The network’s description: “In Mobile, Ala., there’s righteous rabbit and an off-the-hook whole fried fish. In Omaha, Neb., a vegan joint is bringing a meatless spin to fried chicken and nachos. Then in Stamford, Conn., Guy and sportscasting legend Dan Patrick chow down on some gangster Greek.”
The Mobile venue is The Hummingbird Way Oyster Bar, a restaurant in Mobile’s Oakleigh district. It’s not exactly a low-profile venue, given that its proprietor is Chef Jim Smith. He was the first Alabama chef to win the Great American Seafood Cook-Off, and was a judge again this year. He was a Top 10 contender on “Top Chef” in 2016 and is chairman of the Alabama Seafood Market Commission.
We know what’s coming, because Food Network has revealed the recipes it’s sharing from these next two episodes, and one is Rabbit and Grits from The Hummingbird Way. This one isn’t for amateurs: It involves homemade chicken stock, roasted tomatoes, a black roux and blackening seasoning from scratch, pickled cabbage chow chow, and then the braised rabbit itself, a complex recipe that involves pork sausage, beer and flour for a second, lighter roux. (“The darker the roux the less thickening power it has. This is why this dish is a double-roux braise, the blonde for thickening and the black for seasoning and color.”) Just reading through it may leave you so overwhelmed you’ll decide to go out for dinner.
According to Food Network listings, the episode will air at 8 p.m. central time on Friday, Nov. 10, and again at 11 p.m. the same day.
The new episode premiering on Nov. 17 is titled “Wrapped, Pied and Fried.” The network blurb: “In Mobile, Ala., a funky Latin joint is serving craveable carnitas and a surf-and-turf burrito. In Cody, Wyo., a pizza cart is firing up elevated Margherita and Thai Chicken pies. Then in Omaha, Neb., it’s the-bomb brisket sandwich and duck confit fries.”
When Fieri was in town back in June, social media chatter pointed directly at Roosters, a downtown favorite on Dauphin Street. And the crew at Roosters has confirmed that, with an exuberant Facebook post:
“So much to say about this experience, but let’s start with the cat is officially out of the bag, Roosters was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives this season! We were in great company with 5 other local restaurants! Our episode will air on Friday, November 17 at 8pm central. Look for interviews with some of our regulars and appearances from our amazing hard working Roosters staff! We loved getting to hang out with Guy Fieri, his truly awesome film crew from Citizen Pictures, and also his co-host for this segment Cowboy Mouth lead drummer Fred LeBlanc! Be on the lookout for more reminders and reposts from Food Network over the next couple of weeks. Thank you to Guy Fieri and everyone at DDD, and also Pete Blohme for staying on him about coming back to our area!”
Pete Blohme, aka Panini Pete, is a Mobile restaurateur who has worked with Fieri on multiple projects. Part of the reason Fieri was in the area back in June was to help celebrate the opening of Blohme’s latest venture, The Waterfront in Daphne. Fred LeBlanc was on hand for that party, too.
The Food Network’s featured recipe from Roosters is Torta De Carnitas. It’s something from the sandwich section of the menu, which describes it as featuring crispy braised pork, pickled red onion, cilantro, black bean puree & queso fresco on toasted French bread, served in a ranchero sauce.” More goes into it that you might expect: The recipe includes sections for a black bean puree, citrus pickled onions, chorizo seasoning, ranchero sauce, slow-cooked pork and two dry seasoning mixes.
According to Food Network listings, the episode airs at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. central time on Friday, Nov. 17.
That leaves two more Mobile-area stops on Fieri’s itinerary, and one of them will come to light on Dec. 8. While Food Network hasn’t yet confirmed the venue, it tells us this much about the episode titled “Flavor Explosion”: “In Mobile, Ala., a rockin’ food truck is dishing out next-level tacos, while in Alberta, Canada, an Indian joint is serving up savory street food with flair. Then in Los Angeles, a vegan oasis brings their spin to bangin’ Bolognese and an elevated lion’s mane pizza.”
“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” can be seen via cable and streaming providers that carry the Food Network, and via www.foodnetwork.com. Streaming services that carry Food Network programming include Philo and FuboTV.