Heat Eaters (2023)

Jul 10, 2023

In the premiere episode of Heat Eaters, chef Esther Choi goes on a SPICY Korean food crawl in L.A.'s legendary Koreatown, in search of the most delicious and tongue-sizzling delicacies. For Esther, Ktown in L.A. is ground zero for the best Korean food in the country, and she's on a mission to share her favorite spots. From spicy-laced dakbal chicken feet at Hanshin Pocha, to succulent yangnyeom-gejang fermented raw crab at Soban, to an INSANE adrenaline-infused Ktown tteokbokki challenge that uses a Scoville chart-topping spice blend at Yupdduk, Esther and her pals will experience the spiciest dishes Koreatown has to offer. Tune in to learn about why spicy challenges are a beloved form of communal suffering, what makes raw fermented crab so craveable, and why eating chicken feet is the ultimate litmus test for a romantic partner. This is HEAT EATERS.

Jul 17, 2023 - 20m

In the second episode of Heat Eaters, chef Esther Choi does a deep dive into SPICY CHINESE FOOD to explore tingly hand-ripped noodles, powerful street-food lamb skewers, and classic hot pot with Bobby Flay. Esther visits Flushing Queens to satisfy her craving for mala spice, a numbing and spicy seasoning made from Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers. Her journey begins at Xi'an Famous Foods with friend and restaurant owner Jason Wang, where they engage in a hand-ripped biang biang noodle-making tutorial and sample their most fiery dishes, including the spicy and tingly beef noodles. Afterward, Esther and Jason visit Jue Wei BBQ, a Chinese street food cart, to try mala-spiced lamb skewers. Lastly, Chef Esther teams up with her good friend and mentor, Bobby Flay, to relish in the heat of Chengdu style hot pot at Xiang Hot Pot Restaurant. Can Bobby beat the heat?

Jul 24, 2023 - 22m

Calling all Spice Lords—we're finally pulling back the curtain on all things Hot Ones! For the first time in Hot Ones history, we're giving fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of how an episode of Hot Ones is made. Heat Eaters host Esther Choi explores the heart of First We Feast headquarters with her trusty tour guide, Camera Guy Bill. From hanging out with Sean in the studio and getting the scoop about his pre-shoot rituals and research process, to learning about their systematic wing tossing approach, to checking out rare mementos from the 'Museum of Curiosities' collected from past episodes, Esther’s visit is loaded with the type of inside info fans have been clamoring for. But that's not all! After her studio tour, Esther links up with Noah Chaimberg—the founder of Heatonist and producer of Hot Ones sauces—for a very special hot sauce-tasting flight, including an INSANELY hot Pepper X tincture from the legend Smokin Ed Currie.

Jul 31, 2023 - 18m

Get ready for the SPICIEST Mexican food tour! In this episode of Heat Eaters, Esther Choi teams up with acclaimed taco scholar Bill Esparza for a tongue-sizzling journey in Los Angeles, unearthing the vibrant, chili-infused cuisines of Sinaloa, Oaxaca, and the Yucatan regions of Mexico. First stop is Del Mar Ostioneria, an unassuming food truck that serves incredible chili-laced aguachiles and ceviche from Sinaloa, with top-quality marsicos that you'd expect to find at Nobu. Next, they meet up with the Oaxacan Queen herself, Bricia Lopez, to try a rare, hyper-regional spicy mole from Candelaria Lopez, who drove from Santa Maria Valley to whip up a special feast. To cap it all off, Esther and Bill head to a backyard taco pop-up, Ek Balam, to sample spicy cochinita pibil tacos and — as is customary in the Yucatan — chase them down with raw habaneros!

Aug 7, 2023 - 21m

Prepare your taste buds for a tantalizing THAI SPICY journey! On this fiery episode of Heat Eaters, our host, Chef Esther Choi, joins forces with her friend and renowned James Beard award-winning Chef, Justin Pichetrungsi. Their mission? To create spicy Thai Tacos for Justin's Thai Taco Tuesday event at his restaurant, Anajak Thai. Their culinary adventure kicks off with a visit to the Northern Thai Food Club in Los Angeles, where they seek flavor inspiration. Next, they visit Silom Supermarket in the heart of LA’s Thai Town, sourcing fresh and unique ingredients intended to infuse their tacos with bursts of flavors. Then, in a culinary showdown reminiscent of an Iron Chef battle, our grand finale sees Chefs Esther and Justin going head to head at Anajak Thai - each crafting their version of a spicy Thai taco. The challenge? To impress the discerning palates of their esteemed guests and judges, Chefs Jet Tila, Molly Baz, and Vanessa Lavorato. Will they withstand the heat?

Aug 14, 2023 - 21m

Are you ready for a taste of the tropics? In this episode of Heat Eaters, our host, Chef Esther Choi, embarks on a fiery food journey through the vibrant Little Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. Esther's culinary adventure starts off at Irie Jerk Chicken, where she links up with singer and Brooklyn-native, Justine Skye. Together, they feast on succulent Jamaican spicy jerk chicken paired with sweet festival bread, and eat scotch bonnet peppers straight from a spicy escovitch sauce. Next, Esther joins her friend Pierre "Chef P" Serrao, co-founder of the Bronx Culinary Collective - Ghetto Gastro. Together they hit up Ariapita, renowned for its authentic Trinidadian Homestyle cuisine. Chef Osei "Picky" Blackett serves up a medley of Trinidadian dishes, including spicy fruit chow, Chinese-style wings, and flavorful oxtail curry. In the grand finale, Chef P and Esther meet up with Andre Springer, the founder and mastermind behind Shaquanda's Hot Pepper Sauce.