Bobbing for Mezcal

In this episode of Chow-To, Guillermo meets with kawaii foods master Hiroyo Belmonte at the Japanese cultural center, Resobox to learn how to make Kazari Maki Sushi, also known as decorative or cute sushi. Peach blossoms, penguins and jack-o-lanterns are just some examples - kawaii overload! Learn how to make the most adorable sushi DIY-style at home like a master sushi chef.

In this episode, Guillermo visits Chef Pierre Thiam at his fast casual restaurant, Teranga, where he serves Senegalese-inspired grain bowls— AKA, the ultimate power lunch. Chef Thiam's goal is to educate health-conscious American consumers on these superfoods, while also improving the lives of producers by restoring biodiversity to the planet through highly sustainable ancient crops. Together they make a Yassa Bowl using West African red rice, one of the super grains highest in nutritional value today.

In this episode Guillermo visits Kings County Distillery, New York City’s oldest distillery after prohibition (opened 2010). While Head Distiller and co-owner Colin Spoelman gives a tour of the 119-year-old facility, they talk about the illegal origins of the spirit, bringing Kentucky moonshine to Brooklyn, and how to make it in a DIY distiller set up.

Kimchi has conquered the world! Most people know this popular Korean side dish as fermented cabbage, but the truth is you can kimchi pretty much any vegetable and fruit. Food explorers seek it at restaurants and/or specialty stores. This fermented delicacy is an immune-system boosting probiotic food, that includes "healthy bacteria". In the season finale of CHOW-TO, Atoboy's chef de cuisine YeongSoo Lee teaches Guillermo the basics on how to make the Korean staple. There is not one right recipe, here we learn the principles, and the idea is to make it your own. Kimchi is so customizable, that traditional Napa cabbage is just the start. YeongSoo shows us a couple of other variations for inspiration. Move over pickles, time to do some fermenting at home.

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.

To celebrate World Pride in NYC (50 Years of the Stonewall riot) Guillermo visited chef and restaurateur Brian Washington-Palmer, at his newest venture, Ruby's Vintage Harlem. They talked about his experience as a gay man of color in the food and restaurant industry, and what Pride means to him today.