Plot Synopsis

THROWDOWN WITH MICHAEL SYMON is a half-hour culinary competition series that features Michael Symon going up against the best chefs in the game on their own turf. Michael and his culinary right hand, Katie Pickens, take a chef's signature dish and then show up to challenge them with his own version. The catch is that the chefs don't know he's coming! In each episode, Michael cooks alongside the opposition, bringing his competitive spirit and creativity to the dishes that he is challenged to make while a crowd of spectators watch on. Each Throwdown has three total points at stake, with a pair of special guest judges blind tasting the dishes along with the audience in attendance, to determine the winner and see who has the ultimate Throwdown bragging rights. The first four episodes are:

"Battle of the BBQ Burgers" (Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 9:30pm): Michael Symon pulls out all the stops for a throwdown focused on a couple of the things he does best -- burgers and barbecue. Slinging a burger piled high with juicy pulled pork, his mystery competitor is former fine dining chef Matt Abdoo, now at Brooklyn's canalside hot spot, Pig Beach.

"Georgian Cheese Bread" (Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 10pm): Michael Symon makes the call for a throwdown challenge involving khachapuri, the rich, savory, cheesy and decadent stuffed bread from the nation of Georgia. Competitors Ricky and Mariia Dolinsky have mastered this comfort food classic at their hip downtown New York City restaurant, Tzarevna, to the delight of fans and food critics alike. Michael and his sidekick Katie hope their cheesy bread boat sails to victory.

"Savory Chicken Shawarma" (Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 9:30pm): It's on every street corner in New York City, but when shawarma shows up as Michael Symon's throwdown challenge, can he look past the spinning tower of meat towards victory? Not if the Sussman brothers have anything to say about it! Samesa owners Eli and Max have been NYC's shawarma darlings since they began marinating and roasting meat as a pop-up. Michael and his culinary right hand, Katie Pickens, are confident they can win this one, but that cockiness could cost them the title of Throwdown Shawarma Masters.

"Crunchy Asian Fried Chicken" (Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 10pm): Michael Symon knows his fried chicken, but this throwdown is focused on the extra crunchy, extra flavorful variety popular in Korea and Japan. Michael and his culinary partner Katie Pickens have stiff competition in Maiko Kyogoku and Emily Yuen, whose Japanese-style fried chicken with global influences leaves diners at their restaurant Bessou swooning.