Eggplant Parm, Tempura, Ludo Lefebvre: 10 Hot Topics On Food Republic

FR's got the fall travel bug, and we went everywhere this week. First off, we ventured to Sorrento, Italy, for the best history lesson ever: eggplant parmigiana. Next, we sought out the best Denver has to offer, found out what Ludo Lefebvre and the Mind of a Chef team are up to in Los Angeles, looked into what has the restaurant chains of America down and watched an American contender win the prize at this year's S. Pellegrino Young Chef Competition in Milan. Finally we returned home and became better acquainted with two deliciously crispy bites: tempura at Tempura Matsui and soft shell crabs at Cosme. All that and more on this week's Hot Topics.

  • All hail the legendary eggplant parmigiana! This is how you make this cheesy, saucy dish the 200-year-old, Michelin-starred way.
  • Put Denver on your travel to-do list because there are 12 amazing places to eat and drink in Mile High City.
  • An onigiri and tonkatsu sandwich joined forces to make the onigirazu, your new lunch craving.
  • Need a light dinner? Slurp these vegan dan dan noodles with shiitake mushrooms.
  • Restaurant chains are seeing rough days. What's to blame? Delivery meal kits.
  • Want to re-create that light and crisp tempura you had the other night? Here's the secret.

  • Mind of a Chef is ramping up for its fifth season. Here's an exclusive sneak preview of what L.A.'s Ludo Lefebvre brings to the table.
  • In our latest episode of New Chefs Rising, we head to Manhattan's Cosme to talk soft shell crabs with Daniela Soto-Innes.
  • Fall has arrived, which means you'll need some hearty chicken recipes. Here are eight.
  • Team USA showed everyone at this year's S. Pellegrino Young Chef Competition that they're not playing around.