lye vs. baking soda for homemade pretzels

Breaded, deep-fried meat doesn’t need much more other than seasoning. Add to that, using one of the most expensive cuts of meat in the world. Wrap some crustless white bread around it, and you’ve got yourself a perfect snack known as Katsu Sando. A popular Japanese convenience store staple that has become an Instagram darling, and the new avocado toast at restaurants around the country. To learn more about the sandwich, Wagyu beef, and how to make this treat at home (don't worry, you can use any protein, this is not reserved for the super rich) Guillermo visits chef Corwin Kave at Don Wagyu in NYC, to learn all the secrets behind America’s most expensive beef sandwich.

Nasi Lemak is the de facto national dish of Malaysia. Traditionally eaten for breakfast, it might seem like a simple dish. But don't be fooled, this is a flavor bomb. Guillermo visits chef Kyo Pang, at her restaurant Kopitiam in the Lower East Side of Manhattan to learn how to make this Baba Nyonya-staple. It's a fragrant, spicy and sweet delicacy — and even inspired its own Google Doodle. Are you ready to shake up your morning routine?

Cacio e pepe is a social media sensation. Everywhere you look, there are live-action pasta lifts of creamy, pepper-flecked, twirl-worthy mounds of this classic pasta dish. But this "new" foodie fodder is actually rooted in ancient Roman cuisine. To learn how to make this marvel from scratch, Guillermo travels to New York’s Seaport district to meet with world renowned chef Jordan Frosolone, and learn how he makes his “Best of NYC” (an honor bestowed by New York Magazine) dish. Chef Jordan is currently the executive chef at 10 Corso Como, an imported Italian restaurant/gallery concept that has become a celebrity darling since its opening last year. From its kitchen he shows Guillermo how to make pasta from scratch the traditional way, and how to successfully make this incredibly simple dish, that just requires precision and attention to detail.

From Lucques restaurant.

CHOW.com's Suzy Brannon shares a quick test to use on your baking soda to tell if it's still good for baking, or if it should be put to other uses, like cleaning.