Man's Greatest Food

Roger Mooking cannot resist the sweet, succulent smoky goodness of barbecue as he canvases the country on the lookout for the fifteen best barbecue dishes wherever he can find them. For as long as there has been fire, man has been barbecuing over it. Brisket, chicken, whole hog, mutton, and even a breakfast taco are just a few of the saucy delights to be found when fire, meat, and seasoning intersect in juicy perfection.

Pizza is one of man’s most popular inventions and everyone’s favorite food. So when Roger Mooking presents the top fifteen pizza offerings in the whole country, it’s bound to be a revelation. From the paper-thin crusts of New York, to the wood-fired ovens of the west coast, to the bottomless deep dish of Chicago, and with toppings many have never even considered, being called the best finally puts pizza on the pedestal it deserves.

Roger Mooking travels America to reel in the fifteen very best seafood dishes. Freshness is key and location matters. From the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific coast, down deep in the bayou, and high in the Rockies, there's no limit to what seafood lovers will do to sink their teeth into nature's delectable all you can eat buffet. Shrimp, lobster, snapper, or grouper, and fried, steamed, baked, or smoked, no oyster shell is left unturned.

In the culinary world of signature meals, nothing else compares to the sensory experience of steak. There’s the sizzle, the beefy aroma, the flowing juices, the red marbleized texture practically begging for the cut of the knife. And then finally it’s allowed to melt in the mouth. Roger Mooking searches the country for the top fifteen finest cuts and the most perfect intersections of meat, seasoning, and fire.

As the deceptively simple ground meat served on a bun with the perfect combo of condiments and garnishes, the hamburger stands alone as the go-to meal for the American masses. Roger Mooking serves up the top fifteen masterpieces of handheld deliciousness. This is an all-points survey of the amazing variety to which the hamburger has evolved. When the names include the Juicy Nookie, the Brother From Another Mother Burger, and the Burger of the Gods, average is not on the menu.

Roger Mooking travels the country to discover the top fifteen greatest pork dishes. Regional pride and bragging rights are a big part of the evolution of these exceptional pork dishes, not to mention the unbelievable variety. Pig cheeks, pig feet, bacon bombs, ribs, ham, pork wings, and whole hog are all a delicious part of the wide world of pork.

Roger Mooking loves a great sandwich. After all, it’s a full-fledged meal you can hold in your hands. Geography means variety, and sometimes size matters. As he searches for the country’s fifteen best sandwiches, he also learns about techniques and the grand assortment of culinary delights one can place between two slices of bread. These are the amazing people and establishments that offer up something so simple that can be so good.