Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, and Michael Symon go head-to-head in a March Madness-style frozen pizza bracket challenge — tasting 8 supermarket pizzas to crown the ultimate winner. Which childhood classic holds up? Which one gets eliminated first? The trio battles nostalgia, bad crusts, and strong opinions to find out which store-bought pizza is actually worth buying.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

Frontgate → Premium home, kitchen, and entertaining essentials — including Michael Symon’s collection featured on the show. ⁠https://frontgate.com⁠

FreshDirect → Fresh groceries delivered straight to your door. ⁠https://www.freshdirect.com⁠

Spring has officially entered the kitchen, and the crew is leaning all the way in. Michael, Carla, and Clinton kick things off with a spirited debate—everything from whether expensive ingredients make you a better cook to whether recipes should ever be “secret.”

Then things get even better when Carla introduces her culinary producer and longtime friend, Ariane Duarte, who brings serious flavor (and personality) into the mix. From Top Chef stories to behind-the-scenes realities of cooking competitions, Ariane shares how those experiences shaped her—and how food has always been about connection and joy.

In the kitchen, Ariane walks the hosts through a build-your-own crostini situation that’s equal parts elevated and approachable. Starting with homemade focaccia and whipped ricotta, the group layers on bright, seasonal toppings—think smashed peas with herbs, blistered vegetables, and strawberries with balsamic and almonds. The result? A perfect spring entertaining dish that’s flexible, beautiful, and packed with flavor.

Of course, no episode would be complete without a round of Chew It or Screw It, fan mail, and a few wildly off-topic (but hilarious) tangents—because on Chewed Up, the conversation is just as important as the food.

Featuring guest Ariane Duarte

Social- @arianeduartechef

👉 Grab the full recipe + more at: https://www.chewedupshow.com/recipes

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Cold open chaos + instant jokes
• 00:01 – Spring food debate (and Claude catching strays)
• 00:04 – Should recipes be free?
• 00:07 – Ariane Duarte joins the kitchen
• 00:09 – Crostini concept + focaccia breakdown
• 00:13 – Whipped ricotta + topping prep
• 00:15 – Building the crostini (3 ways)
• 00:21 – Why spring flavors hit different
• 00:22 – Ariane’s Top Chef stories
• 00:28 – Chew It or Screw It
• 00:34 – Fan Mail (bagel controversy begins)
• 00:37 – Fan Giveaway reveal

🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

Frontgate → Premium home, kitchen, and entertaining essentials — including Michael Symon’s collection featured on the show.

https://frontgate.com

FreshDirect → Fresh groceries delivered straight to your door.

https://www.freshdirect.com

About Chewed Up

Three lifestyle icons reunite with zero filter, strong opinions, and even stronger flavors. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon are back in the kitchen with comedy, comfort food, and unfiltered conversation — served loud. Episodes drop 3x a week: * Monday – Appetizers * Wednesday – Mains * Friday – Desserts Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a bite.

Want to Watch?

→⁠Spotify⁠⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/show/3Z9NDuHH7XP03FXQIhHlQ3)

→⁠YouTube⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/@ChewedUpShow)

Want to Listen?

→ ⁠Spotify⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/show/3Z9NDuHH7XP03FXQIhHlQ3)

→ ⁠Apple⁠ (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chewed-up/id1840993910)

→ ⁠Amazon⁠ (https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1fc5d229-459b-4334-8970-ce0d6f925982/chewed-up)

→ ⁠RedCircle (https://redcircle.com/shows/c42dbec1-e576-4927-acc7-f22e988c1a81)

Fan Giveaway

This week’s Giveaway: Carla Hall’s Yo-Yo Craft Kit (DIY kit + video instructions + accessories)

Want in?

👉 Subscribe and sign up here: https://chewedupshow.com/fangiveaway

The Chewed Up crew wraps their Miami week at the W South Beach with a bold, flavor-packed finale alongside Miami-born chef and Food Network standout Mika Leon.

Mika brings the group deep into authentic Cuban cooking, skipping the tourist-famous Cuban sandwich in favor of a true local staple: pan con lechón. Built from slow-roasted pork shoulder marinated in a garlic-heavy mojo, the dish delivers rich, citrusy flavor with perfectly crisped edges and signature chicharrón.

The sandwich comes together with sautéed onions, a smoky-spicy cumin aioli, and a surprising crunch from shoestring potatoes — a combination that hits every texture and flavor note.

Along the way, Mika shares her journey from baking in her mom’s garage to launching a food truck and competing on Food Network, all while staying true to her Cuban roots. The conversation moves from Miami food culture to late-night hustle, parenting, and the realities of the restaurant industry.

The episode wraps with a Cuban coffee demo (complete with espuma technique), a surprise guest appearance, and one of the most satisfying bites of the season.

Guest: Mika Leon

Social: (@mikabites)

👉 Grab the full recipe + more at: https://www.chewedupshow.com/recipes

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Miami energy

02:30 – Meet Mika Leon

06:30 – Lechón + mojo breakdown

09:00 – Shredding pork + cooking onions

11:30 – Food truck story

14:30 – Toasting bread in pork fat

16:30 – Spicy cumin aioli

17:30 – Building the sandwich

19:30 – First bites

21:30 – Mika’s origin story

24:30 – Chew It or Screw It

30:00 – Cuban coffee demo

35:00 – Surprise guest

37:30 – Fan giveaway

🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

Frontgate → Premium home, kitchen, and entertaining essentials — including Michael Symon’s collection featured on the show.

https://frontgate.com

W South Beach → Iconic Miami beachfront hotel bringing vibrant energy and luxury hospitality

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/miaws-w-south-beach/overview/

Produced by Simple Alien → https://www.simplealien.com/

Camera, Audio and Crew provided by TV Boy → https://tvboynyc.com/

About Chewed Up

Three lifestyle icons reunite with zero filter, strong opinions, and even stronger flavors. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon are back in the kitchen with comedy, comfort food, and unfiltered conversation — served loud. Episodes drop 3x a week:

* Monday – Appetizers

* Wednesday – Mains

* Friday – Desserts

Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a bite.

Fan Giveaway

This week’s Giveaway: Cuban moka pot + Cuban coffee

Want in?

👉 Subscribe and sign up here: https://chewedupshow.com/fangiveaway