You Gotta Eat Here!

As if being berated by Chef Sandy weren’t enough, John has to take on her 9 lb double-decker hamburger. Only at Blondies in Winnipeg, MB could John find a burger bigger than a grown man’s head – certainly bigger than his! Then in Ontario’s cottage country, John is subjected to further ‘teasing’ in the kitchen, but manages to impress with his little gnocchi song at That Little Place by the Lights in Huntsville, ON.

Pulled pork and ‘magic’ spice rubbed ribs draw the crowds at Boneheads BBQ in seafood centric Halifax, NS. Host John Catucci licks smoked chicken bones clean and gets poutine lucky with burnt beef tips. And what’s the name of that damn pub in Thornbury, ON…? Oh, yeah – it’s “fun times” for John at Dam Pub with Chef Suzette, getting caught bypassing the pan when preparing shepherd’s pie potatoes! John also drops into Landmark Café in Victoria by the Sea, PEI where he digs into a decadent, triple-cheesy lasagna the likes of which, dare he admit, his mother never made.

Host John Catucci indulges in classic favourites with a twist - from 12 delicious, mouth-watering poutine combinations at Boomers Gourmet Fries in Stratford, ON (check out the signature “poutini” – garnished with an olive), to over 40 gourmet burger selections at Relish Burgers in London, ON (including one heart-stopping option named after the local ER) to more than 10 varieties of Eggs Benny at John’s Place in Victoria, BC. Caution: This episode may induce a food coma.

Meals are more than meats the eye at Boon Burger in Winnipeg, MB! See what happens when host John Catucci sinks his carnivorous teeth into the vegan delight Winnipeg voted burger of the year. Yes, we said vegan! Then, get ready to indulge at Jelly Modern Doughnuts in Calgary, AB, where Canadian classics maple and bacon join forces on the nation’s most beloved coffee accompaniment. And in Etobicoke, ON John loosens his lederhosen to make room for The Musket’s jager schnitzel. Watch as the masters of German meat work magical pork wonders.

How far north would you go for authentic southern BBQ? Host John Catucci travels to Ontario’s wilderness to discover a hidden gem in Busters BBQ, where blueberries are the key to killer sauce. John also visits the Argo Café in Vancouver, BC where they serve up everything from your typical diner food like grilled cheese sandwiches and fries to bistro-caliber duck confit. Then in Lunenberg, NS, John drops in at the renowned Magnolia’s Grill, where he is put through the paces of making chef Nancy’s signature fish cakes and delectable key lime pie.

Host John Catucci feasts on one-of-a-kind favourites! An East Coast café, Charlene’s Bayside restaurant, serves authentic comfort foods in a big way, including a bucket filled with chocolate mousse and brownies; and a Moncton, NB joint, the Tide and Boar, prepares everything in-house, from the famous Boar Poutine, right down to the ketchup. And if that’s not enough, you might want to try their very own uniquely Canadian take on tiramisu, the “Beeramisu.” And welcome to the Prince Albert’s Diner in London, ON, for a burger staple that offers bacon and peanut butter on a quarter pound of dripping goodness.

We’re in Turner Valley, AB where city boy host John Catucci gets a Wild West makeover; he mounts a horse and starts his day with the freshest burger possible. With their own cattle, Chuckwagon Café raises the bar on beef; ‘if it ain’t Alberta, it ain’t beef!’ Then John meets the shock jock of fast food, Jon Truch, at Tubby Dog in Calgary, AB, where the wild, wacky and wonderful hot dog creations feature madcap toppings like grape jelly or pickled ginger.

Looking to gain a little weight? How about a lot? John Catucci visits three Canadian eateries that offer only full-fat options! D & S Southern BBQ in Carlsbad Springs, ON features The Determinator Burger: three homemade patties, back bacon, beef brisket, onion rings, cheese… oh and built with grilled cheese sandwiches instead of buns. Think you can handle it? No-one else has! Déjà-Bu, in Caraquet, NB serves up poutine made with potatoes double fried in duck fat for double the crispiness and twice the flavour. At Bubi’s Awesome Eats in Windsor, ON.

Host John Catucci discovers the perfect cure for what ails you at Ottawa’s Elgin Street Diner. Open 24 hours, it’s famous for its chilli laden poutine and humongous Hangover Blue Plate Special. Here they sell over 700 lbs of fresh cut fries per week, 700!!. John then gets strict schooling on the art of the perfect smoked-meat sandwich at Schwartz’s Deli in Montreal, QUE (est. 1928), And at Mrs.

Go back to the golden age of diners with host John Catucci at Red Top Diner in Winnipeg, MB. The 60’s might be over, but the Red Top’s 6-patty Monster Burger lives on! Then, John lines up like a local at Diner Deluxe in Calgary, AB, where nifty nuances on brunch classics – like maple fried oatmeal and meatloaf hash – make it worth the wait.

Host John Catucci is transported back to his childhood as garlic hits the pan with a sizzle at Tre Sorelle in Orillia, ON. It might take three sisters to prepare these Italian classics the old fashioned way, but it only takes one brother to eat them! Then, what do you get when a Czech family takes over a Danish restaurant? Same enormous portions of kylling and dansk schnitzel, only served up with a different accent! Watch John go dice for dice with Chef Paul preparing the out-of-this-world potato salad. And across the country in Canada’s smallest province, John is welcomed like a local at Water Prince Corner Shop in Charlottetown, PEI, famous for their authentic seafood chowder and ‘burping’ biscuits.

Host John Catucci dishes up non-traditional breakfast treats at a new Toronto, ON favourite, Uncle Betty’s Diner, where the eggs benny is served on freshly made, in-house doughnuts. Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it! Over in Halifax, NS, The Armview Diner remains an institution since the 50s. Their fish comes strait from the shore through their door, and John follows in order to get cooking and serve updated classics to a new generation of Haligonian hipsters. From fish fries, to seafood burgers and salads, Haddock is the catch of the day. In Victoria B.C, Brooklyn-born brothers, Howie and David Siegel, owners of Pagliacci’s, show John some New York City attitude. Their restaurant’s claim to fame? Homemade, creamy, dreamy and definitely calorie enhancing New York-style cheesecake.

Host John Catucci hits the road for good ole comfort food: At the Urban Deli in Saint John, NB they serve up classic two-handers, a.k.a: Massive American-style deli sandwiches. In St. John’s, NFLD, Ches’s Fish and Chips - a local favourite for more than 60 years - remains tight-lipped on a famous family batter recipe where if you can’t spell your name in the batter, then it’s not ready! And at Reggie’s Hot Grill in Peterborough, ON, John settles an argument between best friend owners while diving into Reggie’s Signature Burger, an all-beefer topped with a fried egg, a slice of mozzarella cheese and followed by a round piece of cheddar to give the cheesy illusion of a second egg.

Brunch in Edmonton, AB means Urban Diner. Join host John Catucci as he makes a mess of the massive meatloaf breakfast sandwich, then flips out for their famous house signature poffertje pancakes. Haven’t had your breakfast fill? Check out Fat City Franks in Calgary, AB, the ultimate mom and pop hot dog shop, where cool cat retirees Bob and Jane show John their one-of-a-kind breakfast dog. Then John learns the art of ‘the big smoke’ from the father of the TO barbeque scene, at Phil’s BBQ in Toronto, ON.

John loves the old-school Italian pizza at Baffo’s, in Bolton, ON – but Chef Elio’s rigorous pizza training might be more than he bargained for.

At The Grilled Cheese in Toronto’s Kensington Market, John goes in for a grown-up version of the sandwich everyone grew up on. Then the cheese keeps on coming for John at the Shish-Kabob Hut in Peterborough, ON – in the form of a hot pepper and feta spread that sells like hotcakes.

John checks out a barbecue joint that Americans cross the border for: Tunnel BBQ in Windsor, ON.