Plot Synopsis

CARNIVAL KINGS is a half-hour reality series that follows Michelin-starred chef Richie Farina, as he hits the road in search of cutting-edge culinary competition at carnivals around the United States. Known for making food fun by incorporating science to push the limits of culinary creativity, Richie has just 24 hours at each stop to create his own version of that festival's most popular signature dish and then goes head to head against the chef who created the dish in a competition judged by real fairgoers. The one with the most crowd-pleasing dish will win the competition and earn a lifetime of bragging rights. On the series opener, "Duck, Duck... Sliders," Richie heads to Tucson, AZ for the Pima County Fair. There, he tests his talents against a bacon-wrapped duck slider, with flaming hot cheese puffs and caramel apple slaw, served with a side of bacon fat tater tots. Will 24 hours be enough time for Richie to come up with his own take on this dish? Is there any way he can create something even more mouthwatering than the original? In subsequent 30-minute episodes, Richie travels to a different carnival, including: the Great American Foodie Fest in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he takes on Adam Terry of Waffle Love and his fluffy, ice cream-covered Dulce de Liege Waffle; the State Fair of Texas, where he competes against brothers Brent and Juan Reaves and their Deep-Fried Bacon Burger Dog Slider on a Stick; the Pima County Fair outside Tucson, Arizona, where he takes on Nate Janousek of Texas Steak Out and his deep-fried carnival twist on nachos supreme; the Great American Foodie Fest in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he competes agains Robert Magsalin's Fukuburger Food Truck and his fried egg Tomago Burger; the San Bernardino County Fair, where he takes on Jessica and Daniel Lopez of Orale Taco Grille and their Deep-Fried Quesadilla they call the Queso Loco; the Alameda County Fair, where he competes against Matt Holguin of Fabe's Churros and Gelato and his Bacon Caramel Gelato Milkshake; and much more.
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On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 9pm ET/6pm PT, Cooking Channel premiered the season finale of CARNIVAL KINGS. In the season ender, "Why'd the Chicken Sandwich Cross the Road?," Chef Richie Farina hits the Alameda County Fair near the San Francisco Bay for a cutting-edge culinary competition. Phil Delahoyde's "Captain's Chicken Sandwich" combines kids'-cereal-coated chicken and a spicy-sweet sauce into a top-selling fan favorite that Richie must recreate in less than 24 hours. Once he's perfected his own version, Richie will go head-to-head with the "Captain" to see whose food the fairgoers love the most.