James Martin starts his American Adventure with a visit to one of his favourite places in the USA: the Napa Valley. He drops into one of the best food and drink markets in California, cooks with some delicious local produce at a stunning vineyard, gets an exclusive look at the brand-new kitchen at one of the world's best restaurants - 'The French Laundry' - and blends his own red wine to bring back home. James also takes inspiration from Napa's larder to cook California-inspired food in the UK.
James Martin's American Adventure continues with a cruise along California's Pacific Coast. James rides his motorcycle through the coastal city of Santa Cruz and takes in the fertile nature of the local farmland along the way; he then shops at a local farmers' market before cooking his own recipes on a family-run artichoke farm. James also tries his hand at surfing - only to be upstaged by a surfing dog when he does (!) - and uses the area's rich farming heritage as inspiration when back home.
James Martin's American Adventure takes the chef to the city of San Francisco. James arrives on a boat through the bay before cooking on the great historic warship the SS Jeremiah O'Brien. James then takes a walk on foot through San Francisco's famous Chinatown and explores the many food stores offering unusual ingredients to the thousands of shoppers that visit every day. Those with a sweet tooth are also catered for in this episode with an exclusive look at the Ghiradelli Chocolate Festival.
A trip to California wouldn't be complete without a visit to the famous vineyards of Sonoma County; James Martin continues his American Adventure with a drive on his much-loved Harley Davidson to visit a unique winery and farm and a farm and restaurant run by a passionate husband and wife team where he is totally overwhelmed by the culinary offerings. James's adventure isn't just about food, however; he also visits a Tibetan artist undertaking a breathtaking five-year-long ceremonial painting.
James Martin continues his American Adventure with a high-octane pit stop at the world-famous Sonoma Raceway. Nestled in amongst Sonoma's vineyards, James finds out about preparations for an IndyCar season finale and gets driven around the track by Mario Andretti, one of the undoubted kings of American motorsport. James cooks trackside before visiting a new foodie Sonoma hotspot simply called Shed; after a wholesome lunch, James gets invited to Mario's nearby vineyard for wine and a chinwag.
James Martin enters the 'City of Dreams' in style while driving a vintage Porsche on his way to some of the standout foodie highlights of the series. After a visit to an incredible food market in Santa Monica, James heads to the beach to cook up a storm. He also meets a pensioner who happens to be a fitness coach, drops in on old friend and chef-to-the-stars Wolfgang Puck at his Beverly Hills restaurant CUT and the best steak in town, and finishes his visit with a bite of his favourite pizza.
James Martin begins the Texan leg of his American Adventure by visiting a place with more than a hint of Mexican spice. San Antonio was once a part of Mexico, and its influence is all around this great city. After learning how prohibition helped shape San Antonio, James uses traditional flavours and ingredients to cook his take on Mexican food in the historic market square before sampling traditional tamales and barbecoa at the hands of Johnny Hernandez, perhaps San Antonio's most famous chef.
James Martin continues his American Adventure through Texas by delving into Austin. He starts his day with a breakfast taco at iconic Torchy's followed by a cowboy-themed shopping spree at Allen's Boots. Once kitted out, he cooks delicious recipes using locally sourced ingredients in front of a mural dedicated to his favourite ingredient - butter! However, if it's meat that you're after, Black's BBQ in nearby Lockhart are the best in the business; we see what makes it so good.
Welcome to Cowtown! James continues his American Adventure with a full-on cowboy onslaught around Fort Worth. Famous for its great open-range cattle drives of the late 19th century, James tries his hand at cattle roping with the famous Fort Worth Herd before cooking outside the cattle exchange. After trying some of the best barbecue meats on the planet in Angelo's, James dusts off his dancing boots to take part in line dancing at the world's largest honky-tonk and discovers a riverside oasis.
James Martin's American Adventure reaches Dallas and a trip to Southfork, the ranch made famous in the world-renowned TV series 'Dallas'. James gets a tour before cooking in the grounds of the ranch; once in the heart of the city, James goes to the Texas State Fair and gets a peek at the preparations happening for the huge annual event. After visiting the arts district and one of Dallas's finest diners - the Flora Street Cafe - it's time to head back to Southfork for James's take on 'Dallas'!
James Martin drives into New Orleans in a 1970’s Pontiac, continuing his American Adventure, and he’s in for a massive foodie hit in the city known as “The Big Easy”. After delving into a roadside seafood market, James cooks in the famous Louis Armstrong Park and meets The Songbird of New Orleans, singer Robin Barnes. Lunch is courtesy of local favourite The Palace Café, where redfish is on the menu. And no visit to New Orleans would be complete without a taste of local specialities like the po boy sandwich and sweet begniets. James finishes his stay by cooking on a balcony in the centre of The French Quarter and sipping of one of the local cocktails.
Louisiana’s lush plantation country is the next stop. Famous for its sugar productions, the area boasts beautiful plantation houses, rich in history. James arrives in style in a red Mustang and visits historic Houmas House where he cooks in the house’s beautiful gardens before sampling local speciality, gumbo at the hands of the house’s resident chef. Along with a rich history come the ghosts of the past, so James is taken on a ghost tour to find out about the people who once lived and work on the property.
James Martin’s American Adventure continues with a drive towards Louisiana’s swamplands, where he ditches his car for a high-speed boat. The unique watery wonderland provides James with the perfect location to cook a stunning recipe. He just has to make sure he avoids the alligators. James also discovers nearby Lafayette, a city with a great foodie legacy, where he visits family run smokehouse Johnson’s Boucaniere. There he meets father and daughter Wallace and Lori, and tastes their traditional homemade sausage. For dessert, James tries ice cream from the legendary Borden’s ice cream parlour. Once back on the swamps, James tries to find the local wildlife and cooks one final dish.
James continues his American Adventure with a trip to an island that’s not actually an island. Avery Island is a large salt mound, and the home of the chilli peppers used to make Tabasco sauce. James meets the family who farm the peppers, make the sauce and run the Tabasco company and he’s even granted access to the pepper fields to cook two amazing dishes. James experiences an epic trip on a fan-boat and gets to the mash house, where the peppers are turned into sauce.
James Martin ventures into Louisiana’s state capital Baton Rouge to experience a unique American phenomenon - tailgating. It’s the day of a big football match at Louisiana State University, and the LSU Tigers are playing in front of thousands of fans. But the party gets started early! It seems the whole city is out to play and ready to tailgate!. Surrounded by people barbecuing, cooking and sharing food from the back of their pick-up trucks, James joins in and cooks up a storm ahead of the game. He also takes time out to visit a Baton Rouge-based oyster restaurant specialising in North American varieties. Hunger satisfied, James gets back to the game to see the LSU Tigers play.
James Martin hits the East coast with a visit to the historic city of Boston. James’s adventure in the city starts with a shopping spree in the public market, ahead of cooking with local ingredients. James also visits an innovative restaurant where cocktails are often inhaled rather than drunk, and baked goods are supplied by Joanne Chang, the Harvard graduate who has made a name for herself with a string of successful bakeries around the city. James’s tour of the city wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox, where he gets to live out a boyhood dream.
James is in Salem, on the East coast of the USA, made famous by the witch trials of 1692. Things get spooky as James visits on the approach to Halloween. We hear from Salem’s official witch Laurie Cabot, and James meets a love clairvoyant and her dogs. But Salem isn’t just about witchcraft, James visits a unique spice shop and picks up some spices to cook with. He also meets a seafood artist and makes a stop at Turner’s, a family run seafood restaurant, where he experiences shellfish heaven. Sweet treats are also on the menu, thanks to the bewitching Ziggy’s doughnut shop.
The East coast stretch of James Martin’s American Adventure takes him to The Hamptons. Known as being the playground of wealthy New Yorkers, the area has a rich farming history. James taps into this by visiting Amber Waves Farm, where he borrows their outdoor pizza oven to cook for the farmers using seasonal local produce. As well as being famous for the beautiful Montauk Point Lighthouse, The Hamptons has an abundance of great seafood restaurants, so James visits The Dock House in Sag Harbour to try one of the best seafood chowders around. And finally, knowing that the area is famous for lobster, James joins a fishing boat and cooks a deceptively easy and impressive lobster speciality.
James Martin’s American Adventure continues with a visit to Philadelphia. “The City of Brotherly Love” is the perfect backdrop for his foodie adventure with Reading Terminal Market providing all manner of ingredients for both of his cooks. The market even has its own kitchen, so if he forgets an ingredient, it’s not a problem. James then ditches the car to take a tour of the city’s famous murals, but vehicles with more power await. Philadelphia is home to one of the most impressive car collections in the world and James gets a spin in a very special car. Philadelphia is also host to an upcoming movement of vegan eating. “Charlie was a Sinner” is at the forefront of this, and we see what makes a restaurant like this so popular.
James ends his epic, coast-to-coast exploration of the great US of A with a visit to one of his all-time favourite foodie hotspots, New York City. After a bite of pizza at a popular pizzeria in Greenwich Village, James cooks on one of New York’s famous piers. New York has a wealth of French fine-dining restaurants, and the chef can’t wait to take a bite of the action. He chooses his favourite pair, Daniel, run by his old mate Daniel Boulud, and Le Bernadine, where Eric Ripart is in charge of the hobs. At the end of the day, James cooks back on the pier as sunset approaches and he reminisces on his journey of more than 3,000 miles.