Kelsey's Essentials

With the "hottest" food trend right now being hot sauce Kelsey Nixon heads to the first annual Hot Sauce Expo where hot sauce is being added to all savory and sweet foods, including the unexpected.

From sweet to savory, salt is used in almost everything. But, Kelsey Nixon reveals the trend in using salt as a cooking tool. She visits David Burke who uses Himalayan salt blocks in almost everything from appetizer to dessert.

When it comes to dessert, the trend is "hot" cool desserts. Kelsey Nixon helps Max and Mina's create a new ice cream flavor. Then she heads to Just Sweet Café who's shaved ices have Asian inspired flavors.

When the city falls asleep, some restaurants are just waking up to serve decadent dishes to those looking for a little something indulgent. Kelsey Nixon's homage to late-night dining is reinventing mac and cheese, a favorite comfort food.

With mocktails being the latest craze, Kelsey Nixon learns firsthand how cocktails are being reinvented into innovative mocktails. Geoff Bartakovics at the Tasting Table reveals secrets on making trendsetting mocktails.

Kelsey Nixon shows us with a inspiration and essential ingredients, anything is possible. After visiting S'mores Bakery where they make S'mores with adding unexpected flavors, she makes one of her favorite snacks.

The newest trend in entertaining is all about mix and mingle foods and easy to make party bites. Kelsey Nixon's celebrating a big first - her son Ollie's 1st birthday, but these are perfect party foods for any big first occasion.

Kelsey Nixon visits Melvin's Juice Box who is adding the mouth-watering tropical flavors of Jamaica to his juices. She heads to her kitchen inspired to make Fried Fish with Carrot Escovitch with the same flavors as Melvin.

Kelsey Nixon heads to Kimchi Taco Truck to visit the mashup master, Phil Lee. She then makes her own version of a culinary mashup by serving up a Japanese risotto. Next on the menu are apple pie and meatball sub egg rolls.

The latest trend in movie theatres are gourmet concessions. Kelsey Nixon heads to Nitehawk Cinema where they are serving up shrimp sofrito and chocolate cigars. She visits Pipcorn who are making their popular herb spiced popcorn.

Kelsey Nixon discovers the latest trend in Japanese cuisine with a visit to Yuji Haraguchi. Yuji uses "mazemaen" a dry ramen, and no broth combined with American favorites has him Americanizing a Japanese favorite dish.

With global street food taking over, Kelsey Nixon visits Danny of Cemitas who's turning out cemitas packed with layers of flavor. Kelsey visits some epic sandwich makers who bring the amazing flavors of Bombay to the masses.

Kelsey Nixon remembers her trip to San Francisco, it's Spanish cuisine and the latest twist on a classic Spanish dish - paella, made with noodles instead of rice.