Tonight on NBC their new cooking show FOOD FIGHTERS airs with their sixth episode. On tonight’s episode called, “Jon Coombs” a military man squares off against culinary experts. Appearing: Cat Cora.
On the last episode it was the perfect recipe for the ultimate culinary battle when America’s best amateur cooks put their signature dishes to the test against five professional chefs. Last week, a homemaker and married mother of two tried to win $100,000 going up against culinary experts specializing in everything from American comfort food to Latin-Asian fusion dishes to international cuisine before facing off against world-class chef Lorena Garcia. Did you watch the last episode? If you missed it we have a full and detailed recap, right here for you.
On tonight’s episode it’s the perfect recipe for the ultimate culinary battle when America’s best home cooks put their signature dishes to the test against five professional chefs. This week, a U.S. Army sergeant and father of seven tries to win $100,000 going up against culinary experts specializing in everything from Italian dishes to California cuisine before facing off against world-class chef Cat Cora. Adam Richman hosts this series that takes culinary sparring to an exciting new level.
Will FOOD FIGHTERS be another huge hit for NBC? Well we’ll have to tune in tonight at 10PM EST and let us know what you think. We’ll be recapping all of the action right here for you. In the meantime, hit up the comments and let us know your thoughts on this new show.
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Tonight on Food Fighters, we have home kitchen hero Jon Coombs. Adam Richman introduces a decorated Army sergeant and father of seven who has a purple heart and has served all over the world. He wants to use the money to get a bigger house for all his kids. Jon has been in the Army 23 years and spent several years in Iraq where he was injured and won the purple heart.
His first competitor for the $5,000 round is Daniel Shemtob who is known for Food Truck Fusion. He’s a creative cook and says he’s coming for Jon on #FoodFighters. He’s known for his funky flavors. Jon chooses his scallops and potatoes. Daniel is confident since he grew up on the ocean and knows his seafood. They have 20 minutes to cook.
Jon is making homemade pesto sauce but no pine nuts – it’s pesto like. Daniel calls out and says he’s going to want to eat his dish and Jon laughs and asks if he’s making fusion tacos. He’s making potato pancakes with pan seared scallops. He runs around talking to the audience and Jon asks what’s going on. He says he’s sweating but Jon says he’s in his comfort zone.
Jon talks about the challenge of properly searing scallops because he says most people want to turn them often and you should just leave them alone. They’re down to the plating. Jon pours the pesto in a pool, potatoes on the side and scallops in the center. It looks great. Daniel has his plated and they go to the dinner party guests.
They taste Jon’s first. One loves his sauce and one says the potatoes were bland. Daniel gets negative feedback on the potato pancake but good reviews on the scallop. The votes are in and Adam says it was a 3 to 2 decision in favor of Jon. He salutes the Sarge and Daniel is shocked that he lost. He says his dish was perfectly executed. Jon says he wants to take his kids and mom on a trip to Jamaica.
Next up is the $10k showdown against Chef Devin Alexander, who wrote all the Biggest Loser cookbooks. She specializes in healthy cuisine but says she does decadent foods in a healthier way. Jon says she can’t compete with his mac and cheese. Devin says it’s in her cookbooks and things he’s up for a challenge.
Jon says low fat, counting calories can’t hold up against his fatty, calorie filled recipe from his mom. Devin says she knows she’ll lose her showdown if it’s not fatty so she’s using bacon. She’s doing three cheddars and says she’s doing classic middle American. Jon is doing a classic dish as well. He puts Cheez-its in a food processor and those go in the bottom of the ramekins before the mac and cheese goes in.
She tells Jon this is the most fattening dish she’s made in 20 years. He pops his in the oven for a crispy finish and she mixes her bacon in. It’s ready to go to the dinner party. One raves about the cheese and another says too much with the Cheez-its. One likes the bacon and another said there was too much bacon flavor in Devin’s dish.
Adam has the votes and says it was a 3 to 2 vote in favor of Jon. That’s two challenges in his favor. Devin is disappointed to lose and says she thought she had it but congratulates Jon graciously. He’s up to $15,000. Jon says this means he can definitely do the trip to Jamaica. The next fight is worth another $15k. He’s facing celeb chef Vic Vegas who owns a Vegas restaurant and is know for modern Italian.
Jon knows who he is but says he’s not intimidated. Vic says he loves all cuisines and has been baking a lot lately. Jon chooses Caribbean chicken since that’s his heritage and not Vic’s. Jon says it’s going to be a good battle since he’s seen what Vic can do. They have just 25 minutes. Jon says this is an old recipe passed down from his Jamaican family.
Adam comes to check on him and he says he’s got curry and turmeric and Jon says he can do this dish blindfolded. Vic talks to the crowd and says they’re both mama’s boys and he admires Jon. He’s paying to the crowd. He tells Adam he’s doing a spice rub and is making kabobs. He says he’s making Italian style Jamaican jerk seasoning and Jon calls down that it doesn’t even sound right and Vic laughs.
Vic is grilling watermelon and Adam says it looks cool. They are plating their dishes. Jon has rice then meat and then his sauce. Vic’s has watermelon, chicken and sauce. The dishes go to be judged. One says there is too much coconut and Vic’s gets feedback that it’s a good balance but the chicken isn’t seasoned as well as it could be.
Adam says the votes are in and it’s a four to one decision in favor of Vic. Jon takes it okay and Vic says it’s bittersweet because he respects Jon and what he stands for. Chef Eric Greenspan, king of comfort food is the next competitor for the $20k challenge. Jon decides to challenge him to his cookie sandwich. Eric says he’s never made cookies before in his life.
Eric tells him – let’s dance. Jon is feeling the pressure since he just lost a round. They have just 20 minutes to make a cookie sandwich. Adam comes to see Jon and he’s impressed at how fast he made the homemade dough. Eric says sandwiches are his thing so he’s doing PBJ. Eric says he feels good since he likes sandwiches and says why not – he splatters flour all over himself.
Jon has his in the oven and Eric is smearing his across a large pan and then uncaps some liquid nitrogen. They are down to 10 minutes and are working on filling. Eric is working on filling and is doing cream with blueberry jam. Jon is doing a traditional cream filling. Eric is making a liquid nitrogen ice cream. Eric calls it ice thing, not ice cream.
The desserts go to the dinner party. Jon’s shortbread cookie gets raves but one says he didn’t like the basil. One says Eric’s should be a girl scout cookie. The votes are in and Adam says it’s a 3 to 2 decision in favor of Jon. Eric says he owns the loss but proves he can figure something out even if you don’t know how to make something.
Jon is up to $35k and says you can knock him down, but he gets back up. Next he gets a chance to double his money to leave with $70,000. He says he wants to get a house with more elbow room. They tell him he’s facing off against Chef Cat Cora and Jon is floored. Cat was the first female inductee in the Culinary Hall of Fame. She says she’s Mediterranean style chef. Jon says it’s overwhelming being next to her but says he’s not afraid.
They are doing shrimp and grits and Cat says she’s from the South so bring it on. Cat says she’ll use high level techniques to bring it to the next level. Jon says he knows he’s in a world of hurt because this is one of her signature dishes. Cat says consistency is critical with grits and they should be an easy pour. Jon is also focusing on the grits.
Cat is making blackened shrimp with a Romesco sauce. She’s got a lot more seasoning on her shrimp than Jon is using. Jon has charred a lot of veg and is pureeing them into a sauce. Jon calls down to her to be careful not to overcook her shrimp. Adam checks in with Jon and wishes him luck. She makes a quick compound butter with bacon and liquid nitrogen.
They both plate and then send their dishes to the dinner party. They try Jon’s and say that it had a punch of spice but one says he didn’t know what the sauce was for. Cat’s is next. One loved the texture of the grits but another didn’t like the flavors. Adam says the votes are in and it’s a 5 to 0 unanimous decision in favor of Jon. He’s floored that he won.
Cat tells him good job and hugs him. He looks like he’s going to pass out. Cat says she knows she put out a good dish but says Jon put out something that was much more familiar to the guests so that’s why they picked it. Jon says they’re going to go to Jamaica then get a bigger house.
THE END!