"Food Feuds" Coming to Food Network this Fall

by Michael D. Ayers, Posted Sep 14th 2010 @ 2:00PM

Photo: Food Network

Big or small, every town seems to have at least one food rivalry that has residents arguing over which local establishment makes superior dishes. Enter Iron Chef Michael Symon and the Food Network. They're tapping into those local rivalries this fall with Food Feuds, a new 8-episode series premiering October 14th. Each episode has Symon and a cast of townies settling two "feuds" in cities across the country, with their signature dish on the line. It sounds like Throwdown meets Chefs vs. City.

Symon oversees each competition, and a panel of customers, local foodies, journalists, critics and special guests will help determine who's cuisine reigns. First up, the longstanding feud between Philadelphia Cheesesteak greats is settled: they pit longstanding rivals Pat's King Steaks against Geno's Steaks (we're pretty certain any Philly readers already have an opinion as to who is better). Other dishes featured throughout the season include the New York cheesecake, Fried Clams in Essex, Massachusetts, New Orleans' Po'boys, Baltimore crab cakes and Cincinnati ice cream.

The feuds are limited to competition between two establishments, essentially guaranteeing that a host of other local diners and restaurant owners will disagree with the show's choices. Considering the iconic foods being tested, it seems it would be difficult to narrow down to just two options to begin with. That said, the nature of the show opens the doors for future competitions between past winners and new challengers. Indeed, culinary bragging rights are a powerful thing.

In related Michael Symon news, the addition of Food Feuds makes for a busy fall schedule for the Iron Chef -- he'll also appear as a regular judge on season three of The Next Iron Chef.

Filed Under: Television/Film
Tags: food feuds, food network

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-14-2010 @2:04PM Pyrofish said... The Philly one is ridiculous. Pat's and Geno's are tourist cheese steaks. There are far better cheese steaks elsewhere in the city. Not to mention a Philly made in south Jersey with real Italian bread, real cheese, and sweet peppers trumps a "whiz and onions" any day of the week.
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10-14-2010 @10:56PM doug said... From Texas Originally, now live in Florida. Had to take my daughter to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia last year. We drove, so we had an opportunity to try the infamous Philly Cheese steak. We asked, every native we could find, not many said they would make the out of the way trip to go to either store. We decided on Geno's. What a waste of time, effort and Money! My wife makes better Cheese stakes at home. Heck, Universal Studios employee breakaway snack bar makes better cheese steaks. And they aren't known for edible food. Highly disappointed. Now I have less faith in what food network says about food! What a Hype! The only thing saving y'all now is Paula Deen. I've tried several of her recipes, every one SLAMMIN' ! You go girl!

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9-14-2010 @2:54PM TV Food Maps said... This sure sounds a lot like Travel Channel's Food Wars. That said we'll probably add it to our site anyway!

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10-13-2010 @1:07PM Jeff Emde said... Throwdown meets Chefs vs. City, huh? More like EXACTLY THE SAME AS FOOD WARS on Travel Channel! I only watch Food Network because of the original programming... please do it differently, and I'll watch.
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10-14-2010 @2:09AM Craig said... Not only is it a rip off of food wars...The first episode has geno's vs Pat cheese steaks and last season of food wars, pats was one of the 2 that competed....So its a copy of food wars, they are using the same restaraunts...What's next, is food network going to do a show called human vs animals where a guy tries to beat food challenges from different cities ( man vs food )
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10-14-2010 @8:12PM gkimbroughk said... Mr. Simmons you went to Philadelphia to find the best "Cheese Steak" around you went to the WRONG PLACE. You need to go to CHESTER PA.. There's a Sandwich Shop there that will and can PUT Geno's(which was the worst Cheese Stake I ever had in my life> i make a better CHEESE STEAK AT HOME). You want a CHEESE STEAK that will KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFFFF. Go to STACKY'S CHEESE STEAK & HOGIE SHOP in Chester Pa.(only 5 minutes from the AIRPORT right off RT. 291 in CHESTER PA. TRY IT YOU WILL LOVE IT. I promise you will not be Disappointed in their food. My dauther was flying back home after a visit. We stopped there so SHE could take a CHEESE STEAK HOGIE(sandwich) home to NORTH CARLINA to share with FRIENDS!!! But it NEVER made it to NC. It WAS EATEN before she could get on the PLANE.STACKY'S IS THE BEST CHEESE STEAK RESTURANT IN THE SOUTHERN PHILDELPHIA AREA BAR NONE.
Thank you,
THE MAN WHO KNOWs
Cheese Steak Lover gkimbroughk
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11-03-2010 @10:06AM Rochelle said... This show is a blatant ripoff of Travel Channel. Seems most of the Marc Summers Productions’ shows are not very creative and to me are the least successful. I do like Michael Symon. I was happy he won Next Iron Chef but they really need to find a better way to use his talents. I find this show silly and pointless. Am I really supposed to believe one man’s opinion (iron chef or not) changes decades of feuding over whose food is best? I think not. I hate the way they say they will but an end to the feuding…which basically means that they are deciding one person’s dish sucks. Not cool IMO. Food Network is going downhill fast. Get rid of all the Marc Summers Productions crap.
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