Thu, May 7, 2020
The experts travel to Turku, Finland's oldest city and former capital, to meet first-time restaurant owners Turo and Marina of Ruissalon Maininki. Their restaurant is a large, century-old heritage building that suffers from the misconception that it is only for use by members of the adjacent yacht club, which keeps many locals and tourists from coming in. Turo and Marina need the experts to help give the place a new identity and purpose while keeping an authentic Scandinavian feel. To do this they take a master class in sausage making, learn Nordic design techniques, bake Finnish bread and desserts, experiment with fabrics and more to help the first-time restaurant owners find their groove in running a successful Finnish restaurant.
Thu, Feb 27, 2020
The three experts hit the Caribbean, making a special trip to Marigot Bay, St. Lucia. There they meet Sue and Fluffy, owners of Roots 2, a laid-back restaurant with Rastafarian vibes perched high atop a cliff overlooking a bay. Fluffy, who is also the chef, cooks hyper local recipes that were passed down from his mom, but the food's appeal is limited to St. Lucians. To keep Roots 2 afloat, they'll have to diversify the menu and figure out a way to capitalize on the restaurant's epic view. From visiting Castries market and tasting the native produce of the island, to learning palm front art, hunting for Lionfish and learning Masquerade dancing, the experts try to help bring Roots 2 to new heights.
Thu, Feb 27, 2020
We meet Miriam and Dave, the young owners of Arlberg Boutique Eatery, in the heart of the Austrian Alps in Tyrol, Austria. They own a boutique hotel with adjoining restaurant and the latter doesn't nearly live up to the eating experiences in their corner of the Alps. To help put a Band-Aid on the problem, they're in the process of rebranding their restaurant but have some strong feelings about not including some classic Austrian dishes, which leaves the tourists who come in from nearby St. Anton so disappointed they leave before ordering. To better make some big changes, our experts immerse themselves in Tyrolean culture by visiting a mountainside dairy farm and learning to make local cheese, witnessing the work of one of the last blacksmiths who makes hand-crafted cowbells, experimenting with the practice of upcycling and more in hopes of applying all of their new skills to restore a local feel into the Arlberg Boutique Eatery.
Thu, Feb 27, 2020
Tobermory, Ontario, considered "Canada's Caribbean," has short summer seasons that Coconut Joe's Bar and Grill owner Michael needs to maximize. He's taken a risk by opening a tiki-themed restaurant about as far from anything authentically tiki as possible, and it's in need of décor guidance and menu updates to get summer visitors to come by in the droves necessary to keep it open. Through incorporating smoky flavours into Tobermory's white fish, learning chainsaw carving art, visiting a local farm that wants to help with Michael's produce problem, and more, the experts put their skills to the test in an attempt to help breathe new life into this Ontario restaurant with a stunning view.
Thu, May 7, 2020
Ljubljana, Slovenia, has been around for centuries, but its reputation as a hot spot is recent-which is why the family-run restaurant, Zmauc, run by husband-wife team Matjaz and Tsenja, with help from son Luka, is in need of help. Reviews say that Zmauc is "stuck in the past" and while the surrounding neighborhood grows more hip, Zmauc stays the same. This is a problem for Matjaz and Tsenja who want to turn over the restaurant to their son, but won't do it until it's in good shape. To help, our experts visit a local honey farm, tour the only castle ever built into the side of a mountain, stop by Slovenia's Vina Povh Winery and the Goce wine cellars. Can they make Zmauc as cool as its surroundings so Luca can take over?
Thu, Feb 27, 2020
In beautiful Guanacaste, Costa Rica, couple Elisa and Sandro run The Lookout, a seafood and oyster bar. Sandro, the chef, has only begun cooking months ago, and his partner Elisa runs the front of the house while juggling life as a new mother to the couple's young son. They're desperate for balance in their lives so they can spend time with their baby, but the restaurant is struggling with poor reviews and a reputation for food that doesn't fit in with Costa Rican culture. To help, our team learns the culinary secrets of this Blue Zone, meets local Costa Rican artists and surf legends, practices the art of pottery, experiences the sabanero traditions and more. Is it enough to help save The Lookout and make it an accepted and appreciated restaurant?
Thu, May 7, 2020
Fruit orchards, vineyards, hills and mountains are hallmarks of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, and that is where we find father-daughter team Campbell and Anne, the owners of The Outboard Waterfront Pub. Together, Campbell is looking to retire soon and Anne is juggling the demands of new motherhood, all while looking for ways to avoid having to close down their restaurant entirely during the offseason. To help out, the experts delve into the unique culture of the Okanagan Valley to see what they can bring back to The Outboard to give it some new life: Kokanee salmon fishing and riding float planes, First Nations totem poles, local distilleries, and innovative vineyards all have something to offer to help improve the restaurant.
Thu, May 7, 2020
The team of experts visit the Aloha Vista Bar and Grill, a hillside restaurant with incredible views of the Big Island's Keauhou Bay. They're greeted by first-time restaurant owners Siri and Sunny, who have inherited an ocean's worth of challenges with this business venture. Not only do they not have a clue about the ins and outs of running a restaurant, they inherited a decidedly un-Hawaiian Italian menu, decor that is drab at best, and a reputation that leaves locals with a bad taste in their mouth. By incorporating local Hawaiian tastes and designs, making traditional Kapa, witnessing a tatau, and visiting a centuries-old taro farm and more, these experts try to help elevate the Aloha Vista Bar and Grill and teach Siri and Sunny a thing or two about the restaurant business along the way.
Thu, Feb 27, 2020
Chaotic-yet-beautiful Hong Kong is where the experts meet couple Clifford and Charlene, owners of the The Tai O Banyan Tree, a tiny café and retail shop on the main drag of Tai O fishing village. The Banyan Tree symbolizes the couple's commitment to each other, but they might have to shut it down in the face of rising rents and the fact it hasn't been profitable in five years. The experts have a huge challenge on their hands; the restaurant lacks seating and seems to specialize in clutter, not tourist-friendly food that will help the restaurant thrive. To help, the experts immerse themselves in the local culture by going on street food tours, observing baking techniques from an old-school Cantonese bakery, practicing the ancient art of Feng Shui, making local shrimp paste, and more. Will it be enough to help revitalize The Tai O Banyan Tree and make this café a Hong Kong hotspot?