by Carey Sweet – Jun. 10, 2010 01:56 PM
Special for the Republic
Beau MacMillan knows a few things about indulgent foods.
As executive chef of Elements at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa, he has created such decadent dishes as sweet-and-sour braised bacon over wilted watercress and pearl pasta; and foie gras pudding with black truffle meringue, candied marcona almonds and cracked pepper caramel.
So it’s little surprise that MacMillan has been picked to share his favorite “bad boy” dishes with the Food Network. Filming starts next month for several new episodes of “The Best Thing I Ever Ate,” a series that peeks at the guilty culinary pleasures of the nation’s top celebrity chefs as they dine at other restaurants around the country.
The East Coast native was first profiled on the show for his love of “Clam Chowdah” from Cabbyshack in his hometown of Plymouth, Mass., in an episode that aired in February.
“The show is awesome to be on,” said MacMillan. “Because all I have to do is talk about food that I love.”
So what’s got MacMillan’s gullet all gleeful now?
First up is the waffle dog from Over Easy in Phoenix. It’s a custom creation from chef-owner Aaron May, and its appeal is obvious, MacMillan said.
“Who doesn’t love deep-fried sausage dogs wrapped in waffle batter and soaked in pure maple syrup?” he mused.
Next, it’s on to sticky buns from El Chorro in Paradise Valley.
“The rolls are legendary in these parts,” MacMillan said.
Later this season, we’ll see MacMillan extolling the greedy goodness of The Queen Creek Olive Mill and it’s del Piero Café “Kalamata Sandwich” brimming with Queen Creek Pork Shop Italian and kalamata salami, capicola, herb-roasted tomatoes, leafy greens, Provolone, red onion and white balsamic-herb crema on a grilled mini baugette. Air date August 2nd at 9pm on The Food Network.
He has mentioned Boston cream pie at Parker House Hotel in Boston; crepes at Flip Happy Crepes in Austin, Texas; and sushi at Yellowtail at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas.
MacMillan is hoping to add Scottsdale’s new Pomo Pizzeria to his lineup, if he can get Food Network approval for the Vera Pizza Napoletana certified restaurant that opened in March in the Borgata at Scottsdale Road and Lincoln Drive.
Over recent years, MacMillan has built a significant television presence.
In March 2006, he took over The Food Network’s kitchen stadium to compete in an episode “Iron Chef America.” Pitted against Bobby Flay in “Battle American Kobe Beef,” MacMillan’s cuisine reigned supreme and he won the cook-off.
This winter, MacMillan hosted Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America,” a series where MacMillan and his team of six of “the most hopeless cooks in the country” competed against six other kitchen klutzes led by Anne Burrell, host of Food Network’s “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef.”
MacMillan’s team was indeed the most hopeless, losing out to Burrell’s crew.