The One Dish John Catucci Always Orders From These North American Cities

Posted by Amber Dowling. Last updated on March 13, 2021 by Food Network Canada Editors

Everyone knows that one of the best parts about travelling is all of the different foods you get to sample while on the road. There are so many great regions that do particularly delicious dishes unlike anywhere else, which for some people is the entire reason to visit a city in the first place.

In that vein, we asked Big Food Bucket List host John Catucci about some of the cities, provinces, and states he travelled to on the first season of the show, and what dishes he recommends we order most. A word to the wise though, this gallery may leave you ravenous.

Watch Big Food Bucket List Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT and stream all your favourite Food Network Canada shows through STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels, or with the new Global TV app, live and on-demand when you sign-in with your cable subscription.

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Toronto

John travelled to Ontario’s capital, where he sampled everything from <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/valeries-home-cooking/photos/best-italian-recipes/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">classic Italian dishes</a> at Lamanna’s Bakery and various cuts of steak at Copacabana Brazilian Steakhouse, to Filipino cuisine at Lamesa Filipino Kitchen, and even jerk lobster at Patois. <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/big-food-bucket-list/locations/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Explore more restaurants from the show here</a>.
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Toronto Must-Try: Pizza

So what stood out? <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/big-food-bucket-list/blog/where-to-find-the-best-pizza-in-canada/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Pizza, pizza, and more pizza</a>. John was particularly fond of the Pizza on Pizza Pepperoni Big Slice at Lamanna’s, which comes with a whopping 52 slices of pepperoni and clocks in at an impressive 24 inches. We dare you to try and eat it solo. Check out all of John’s Toronto highlights <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/big-food-bucket-list/video/shortform/must-eat-in-toronto/video.html?v=1527362627735" rel="no-opener noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Louisiana

When you’re searching for food bucket list items, New Orleans has to be on your travel menu. So it’s not surprising that John landed here to sample things like <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/big-food-bucket-list/blog/best-fried-chicken-john-catucci/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">fried chicken</a> and catfish at Willie Mae’s Scotch House, <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/big-food-bucket-list/blog/how-to-brunch-like-big-food-bucket-lists-john-catucci/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">brunch </a>and oysters at Brennan’s, and creative sammies at Turkey and the Wolf.
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Louisiana Must-Try: Fried Chicken

Of all the creole-inspired dishes Catucci sampled, the one standout dish he’d go to without hesitation is the fried chicken—especially at the James Beard Award-winning Willie Mae’s, where they’ve been churning out golden, crispy fried chicken since the 1970s. Check out all of John’s Louisiana highlights <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/big-food-bucket-list/video/shortform/must-eat-in-louisiana/video.html?v=1527355459764" rel="no-opener noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Calgary

The home of the Stampede may be a surprising food city to some, but John had his fill of unique dishes like Brisket Benedict with Prosecco Hollandaise at Monki Bistro, Tandoori Chicken and Lamb Shank Kosha Mangsho at Calcutta Cricket Club, and staples like prime rib and Bison brisket at Charcut Roast House.
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Calgary Must-Try: Beef

When faced with all of the notable dishes John tried, he was all about the beef in Calgary. “Every type of beef,” he says. “The best of the best beef.” He points to the Slow Roasted and Smoked Prime Rib at Charcut as one of his very favourite dishes of all. We’re not surprised to hear it—that is the spot co-run by former Top Chef Canada: All Stars contestant Connie Desousa, after all. Check out all of John’s Calgary highlights <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/big-food-bucket-list/video/shortform/johns-must-eats-calgary/video.html?v=1527341635726" rel="no-opener noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Nova Scotia

The Eastern province’s food scene may not big as big and splashy as some of the other Canadian provinces, but it certainly features quality ingredients and dishes done right. Catucci highlighted that with his jaunts there, which included a trip to Sugar Moon Farm for maple-inspired dishes like pancakes and Maple Bacon Mac and Cheese, or The Canteen for Seared Digby Scallops and a dish called The Crobster.
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Nova Scotia Must-Try: Seafood

How could John not pick “all the seafood,” like fresh lobster, scallops, shrimp, and oysters as his go-to order in Nova Scotia? We’re still dreaming of The Canteen’s Crobster Roll, which is basically a toasted long bun stuffed with four ounces of Nova Scotia snow crab and lobster and then topped with a truffle aioli, dill, and grainy mustard. Check out all of John’s Nova Scotia highlights <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/big-food-bucket-list/video/shortform/must-eat-in-nova-scotia/video.html?v=c895fb36-990e-11e9-8f66-c68264eaa09d" rel="no-opener noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.
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California

The food in Cali is known to be fresh, varied, and extra, which is probably why John had his fair share while he was there. The host sampled everything from Poke Bowls at The Grass Skirt in San Diego, to Jumbo Cheeseburger Potstickers at Ms Chi Café in Los Angeles, to Spaghetti Grilled Cheese at Irvine’s Burnt Crumbs. Seriously, we’re full just thinking about it all.
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California Must-Try: Burgers

Of all the items Catucci ate in the state, he says that Californian burgers are where it’s at. Considering he sampled many—including the Blue Jay Burger and the Double Bacon Cheeseburger at San Francisco’s Hodad’s—we’d say he’s kind of an expert on the subject. Check out all of John’s California highlights <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/big-food-bucket-list/video/shortform/bucket-list-burgers/video.html?v=1527325764000" rel="no-opener noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.
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