The contenders were Amy’s, Campbell’s, Progresso, and Wolfgang Puck.

Campbell’s finished in last place. This condensed soup just didn’t stand a chance. It was way too watery and completely flavorless. Maybe if Phantom ignored the directions and added way less water, this soup might have measured up.

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A big step up from there was Progresso. This hefty can boasts a full serving of vegetables in every bowl, and with the biggest chunks in the bunch, it certainly delivers. The addition of spinach gives a rustic earthy feel, but in the end Progresso just tastes too canned.

The runner-up is Amy’s. This organic entry is rich and thick with tons of veggies and noodles in every spoonful. Unfortunately the pasta was mushy, and the broth was overwhelmed by so much onion flavor phantom could barely taste anything else.

At the top of the food chain is Wolfgang Puck. This celebrity chef is more than just a pretty face; he actually makes some seriously good soup. The broth was well balanced, tasting like it was slow-simmered for hours. And the pasta and beans stayed firm, giving this soup a wonderful contrast of textures.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV 38.

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Restaurant Oro is a romantic, city-style restaurant overlooking Scituate Harbor.
Seafood is the specialty here, including velvety corn and clam chowder, crispy lobster cakes packed with chunks of fresh-shucked meat, crispy potato strings, and creamy lobster bisque.

For a different kind of date experience, Tangierino in Charlestown is a sexy Moroccan restaurant offering exotic flavors and honey-sweet pastries with a little live belly dancing on the side.

Sorellina in Copley Square is the ultimate destination for that date you’re looking to impress. Modern Italian cuisine is the focus, including handmade pastas and Kobe beef meatballs. But you can’t leave before you taste the seductive molten chocolate cake.

Valentine’s Day is on a Tuesday this year, which is great for restaurants, because Tuesday is typically one of the least busy days of the week.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11a.m. on MyTV38.

They’re gearing up for a very busy Super Bowl Sunday at Easy Pie in Braintree a sleek new pizzeria offering upscale slices.

They’re offering two cheese pizzas and a large order of wings for $25.

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For some super-sweets, North End Treats in Framingham is selling a big game platter stacked with enough Italian pastries to fill a stadium, for $30.

AJ’s Kitchen in Wilmington offers take-out specials big enough to feed an offensive line. They’ll be serving two extra-large two foot long calzones, or a tray of 40 home-style meatballs $40.

Sparky’s in Haverhill is selling 60 wings for $50.

And the Chocolate Truffle in Reading in Winchester is offering a free order of chocolate wings with the purchase of a chocolate pizza!

Sunday, the biggest day in football meets the biggest day in food. So watch the Phantom Gourmet pregame marathon from 10:30 until 6 on MyTV38.

If you’re interested in changing up your menu this year and going beyond nachos and chicken wings, Paula Ebben got a great idea from the folks at Wilson Farm’s Kitchen.

WBZ-TV’s Paula Ebben reports

Turkey Chili

2 lbs. ground turkey

2 – 15 oz. cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed

2 – 26 oz. boxes chopped tomatoes

2 medium red onions, chopped

2 green peppers, diced

2 yellow peppers, diced

2 Tbs. garlic, minced

1 Tbs. chili powder

¾ tsp. ground cumin

½ tsp. ground coriander

½ tsp. dried oregano

1 Tbs. salt

1 tsp. black pepper

3 Tbs. olive oil

scallions, chopped

Directions:

In a large shallow pot (a Dutch oven) heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add dry spices, salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add turkey and cook until golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Add beans and simmer for 10 minutes. Add peppers and cook another 8 minutes. Adjust seasoning. Sprinkle with scallions.

Enjoy.

And a decade later, this comfortable bistro continues to turn out some of the best food outside the city, under the watchful eye of Executive Chef Andrea Schnell.

“The food is modern American with global accents. A lot of fresh flavors,” said Schnell.

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Square Cafe has Fresh flavors and plenty of Asian influence too, like the crispy hot & sour calamari, Korean spice rubbed flat iron steak, or the amazing seared sea scallops with ponzu emulsion, sautéed asparagus, crispy bacon, and shrimp fried rice.

The menu is broken up into small and large plates, allowing diners to sample and taste a wide variety of dishes.

“Try not to mess with the food too much, I mean there’s beautiful food, you don’t really play with it too much and we just enjoy feeding people and making people happy and that’s what we do,” said Schnell.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV 38.

Dan Andelman takes us to some of Boston’s best spots for wings.

In a neighborhood full of Italian restaurants, Vito’s Tavern stands out as the North End’s one and only sports bar.

Chicken Wings are their specialty, in flavors like Traditional Buffalo, Smoky Chipotle, and sweet and tangy Korean style. The wings are double fried so they’re extra crispy.

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Short for pizza and wings Pizzings in Abington and Marshfield offers varieties of chicken wings all meticulously flipped and covered so every bite is packed with flavor, whether it’s on the bourbon barbecue, the O.M.G. hot wings, or the signature bee-sting flavor packed with fiery chilis and a sweet touch of honey.

Located in an underground space in Kendall Square in Cambridge, Think Tank Restaurant puts a unique spin on wings, by tossing and saucing them with spicy Thai Siracha sauce.

You can find some more great spots for wings, pizza, subs and all kinds of take-out on the Phantom Gourmet Pregame Marathon Next Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on my TV38.

The Rattlesnake Bar and Grill in Boston has stirred up a Ghost Chili Margarita and they’re daring people to drink it.

Here’s the catch – you aren’t allowed to wash it down with a chaser.

This “glass of fire” is filled up with ghost chilies, Trinidad Scorpion chili sauce, habanero powder and red pepper flakes.

Starting February 2nd, anyone bold enough to give it a try will have an hour to finish the entire drink without the assistance of any heat-dulling aids.

Win or lose, you’ll get a bowl of Brooklyn Chocolate Stout Ice Cream at the end, a t-shirt, and a photo on the Rattlesnake’s Facebook Page.

The difference is, the winners get a T-Shirt that says “Champion,” while the losers’ shirt says “loser.”

The challenge costs $16 per person.

The snack-sized contenders were Frigo Cheese Heads, Polly-O, Sargento, and Sorrento Stringsters.

Polly-O finished at the bottom of the barrel. This cheese stick was too firm and chewy, reminding Phantom of rubber. Even worse, there was virtually no flavor whatsoever.

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A big step up from there is Sorrento Stringsters. With a nice texture and flavor that’s not too tangy and not too salty, this brand had more of what Phantom was looking for. But when it came to stringiness, Sorrento just didn’t peel as well as the other contenders.

The runner-up is Sargento. Firm and flavorful, this snack actually tasted like real cheese. It had a salty earthiness that might not appeal to kids, but should keep adults full until dinner.

At the top of the food chain is Frigo Cheese Heads. The package boasts that this cheese is ‘America’s Favorite’ and Phantom has to agree. Softer, tangier, and much creamier than any of the other competitors, this fresh-tasting cheese was a satisfyingly stringy snack.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV 38.

But Dan Andelman of the Phantom Gourmet says, there’s no better place to warm up, than at a good restaurant.

“Willy’s Steakhouse” in Shrewsbury is the kind of restaurant that can warm you up on a cold winter’s night, because they pan-sear all their steaks at a very high temperature.

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“MT’s Local” in Nashua, New Hampshire is a new Phantom favorite for wood-fired pizzas.

“The Grog” in Newburyport is a classic warm-up spot, serving hearty clam chowder, pork chops, and chicken pot pie, all in front of a roaring fire.

The lack of snow this winter has been tough for the ski resorts, but for most restaurants, less snow means more business.

“We do all regions of Italy. It’s not Northern Italian, it’s not Southern Italian, it’s all Italian,” said chef-owner Jimmy Burke. “If it’s Italian, we do it.”

Ever since Burke opened Orta in Pembroke a couple years ago, the warm and inviting dining room has been packed with customers who can’t get enough of his rustic Italian comfort food.

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To start, there are almost a dozen small plates to choose from, but just about everyone orders the homemade meatballs: a recipe passed down from Jimmy’s mother.

Pizzas are cooked in a blazing wood fired oven, and cost less than $15, and most entrees are priced well below $20. It’s food that will make you feel good at a price that will make you feel great.

It’s the best of Italy, served up on the South Shore, at Orta.

Dan Andelman of the Phantom Gourmet takes us to some hot new restaurants in the city and suburbs.

Brand new to Brookline, Jimmy’s Bar and Oven looks straight out of New York, and tastes straight out of the North End. Popular items include the thin-crust pizzas and the signature chicken parmesan.

At Blue Inc. on the Greenway, Chef Jason Santos serves a small but creative selection of dishes, like duck fat waffle fries and hoisin glazed duck confit.

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Now open in Marlboro, Fish Restaurant and Wine is an upscale seafood spot offering a top-quality raw bar, gourmet fried clams, and a decadent lazy-man’s lobster.

And some other new restaurants on Phantom’s radar include Chef Jody Adam’s Trade at Atlantic Wharf and Tiffany Faison’s new barbecue joint in the Fenway named Sweet Cheeks.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV38.

Dan Andelman shows us some of the Phantom Gourmet’s favorite spots for Chinese take-out.

For Chinese food lovers, Mai Place in Canton is a favorite for tender boneless spare ribs and the tangy triple delights packed with shrimp, beef, chicken, and veggies served in an edible nest of fried potato sticks.

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Bamboo in Bedford, Dedham and Westford specializes in both Chinese and Japanese cuisine, but the biggest crowd pleaser is the so-called bobo for two. It’s an amped up pupu platter stacked with shrimp tempura, crab rangoon, and teriyaki beef skewers.

Great Chow in Quincy and Abington offers an upscale Chinese take-out experience, with standouts like the house lo-mein with shrimp, pork, and beef. This is also Phantom’s favorite place for general gao’s chicken, cooked perfectly crispy, yet tender, with an ideal mix of sweet, sour, tangy, and hot.

At Lavender in Sudbury, instead of chicken lettuce wraps, they offer lobster lettuce wraps are served with a tangy hoisin sauce. Plus, there’s light and flavorful pineapple fried rice, and tropical pineapple chicken served right in the shell.

Put in your order as soon as you can and pick up your order as early as possible.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on TV38.

At Bacaro in Providence, partners Brian Kingsford and Jennifer Matta are serving up a new way to experience Italian cuisine.

“It’s great little explosive flavor bites in a small format,” said

They’re called Cicchetti, essentially Italian-style tapas, like mini-panini and arancini, stuffed olives and seared scallops.

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“The boundaries are endless which is really what’s wonderful about it,” said

In addition to the small plates, there are dozens of imported meats, cheeses and olives.

Customers are given a paper menu and a pencil, and check off whatever they’re in the mood for.

“It’s a great way to try different flavors, and things that you normally wouldn’t try without committing to a huge plate of food,” said

For those who want to dine a little more traditionally, there are plenty of fresh pastas, grilled pizzas and mouthwatering meats to choose from.

It’s all to be enjoyed downstairs in the bustling wine bar or upstairs with gorgeous views of Downtown Providence and the Waterfront.

“People really want a customized, personalized dining experience. And I think that the amount of choices that we offer, people really can set up the meal that they’re looking to have,” said

The Marliave in Downtown Crossing serves classic French, Italian, and American dishes with an historically delicious twist.

“Marliave is one of the oldest restaurants in Boston, It’s been here since 1875. We try to do things a little bit more the old fashioned way,” said chef and owner Scott Herritt.

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Along with Pan-seared diver scallops, and gourmet meatball sliders, the Marliave features oysters shucked fresh from the raw bar, Ice Cream that’s churned in house, even a French-style grilled ham and cheese sandwich… with cheese on the outside and a fried egg on top.

Plus, Herritt makes a mean plate of steak frites, for just twenty bucks!

“We want to get the best steak we can we use Wolfneck Farms, it’s a flat iron cut, very tender, great flavor, and we cut all our own french fries in house, toss them with some fresh berbs, salt pepper, make our own sauce and that’s how we get our Steak Frites,” said Herritt.

Some customers come just for drinks at the bar, others to experience a full meal in the intimate dining room. But everybody gets a taste of history at the Marliave.

“I think the name Blue Inc. came from what I would think is the obvious, is my hair, I’ve had blue hair for 13 years,” said Santos.

Overlooking the Rose Kennedy Greenway, Blue Inc. serves up some of Boston’s most inventive food, like mini Kobe Corn Dogs in an onion cheese batter, Duck Fat Waffle Fries with smoked gouda and pink peppercorns and Honey and Hoisin Glazed Duck Confit with cashews.

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Not to be outdone, the drink menu takes creativity to the next level with cocktails featuring fire roasted marshmallows, and nitrogen infused foams.

Everything is carefully selected, keeping the menu small, but satisfying.

“I’m not sure we need The Cheesecake Factory menu. I think 6 apps, 6 entrees, and 6 six bar menu items. Eighteen things to choose from, hopefully that’s enough for someone to find what they love,” said Santos.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV 38.

For busy shoppers and hungry diners, Wicked Restaurant in Mashpee and Legacy Place in Dedham is a good place to chow down and unwind.

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Right across the street from the Natick Mall, the brand new Ten-Ichi restaurant specializes in three things:Japanese sushi, Chinese dim sum, and authentic hot pot cooking at your table.

For busy shoppers along Newbury Street, one of the quickest and most affordable spots is Bostone Pizza, where you can get two slices of crispy Sicilian pizza for just $6

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on TV38.

The four fiery competitors were Barilla, Bertolli, Classico, and Vito Marcello’s.

Classico spicy red pepper sauce finished at the bottom of the bunch. Its consistency was too smooth, and its flavor was too subtle. In fact, this sauce bordered on bland.

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Next up was Barilla spicy marinara. The only brand to list sugar as an ingredient, this sauce actually tasted a lot like ketchup, except that ketchup doesn’t finish with an unpleasant burn in the back of the throat.

The runner-up is Bertolli Arrabbiata. Although an improvement over the others, this sauce was still nothing special. While Bertolli did serve up a decent blend of flavor and heat, Phantom couldn’t stop thinking that someone secretly swapped out the sauce in this jar for salsa.

At the top of the food chain is Vito Marcello’s Fra Diavolo sauce. This New Hampshire-based brand cost a few bucks more than the competitors, but at least it actually tasted like tomato sauce. With pleasing chunks of tomatoes and hot italian peppers, Chef Vito’s family recipe yields a sauce you’ll be proud to pour over your pasta.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV 38.

The four sweet-and-tangy sandwich spreads were French’s, Grey Poupon, Gulden’s, and Koop’s.

Koop’s fizzled out at the bottom of the heap. This strangely fruity contender pulled the old bait-and-switch: it looked like honey mustard but somehow tasted more like a blend of peanut butter and jelly.

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A small step up from there, French’s at least passed the “tastes like mustard” test. But, it had a weird dehydrated-vegetable flavor, which Phantom attributed to the odd inclusion of “carrot” on this brand’s ingredient list.

In short, the runner-up is Grey Poupon. While this upper-crust brand puts out a fine version of regular Dijon mustard, its honey mustard pales by comparison. Astringent, under-salted, and remarkably bitter, at the end of the day this French contender just didn’t cut the mustard.

At the top of the food chain is Gulden’s. Even though this excellent honey mustard was sweeter than the rest (in fact, it had twice as much sugar), there was enough salt and savory flavors to keep it all in balance. Gulden’s is rich with complex notes of molasses, honey, and apple cider vinegar, with just enough tangy power to kick up a ho-hum ham sandwich.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV 38.

Leslie Marie Barros is the mad scientist of the morning meal. She bakes all her own breads and muffins in house. She piles the plate to extreme proportions. And she has designed the most outrageous breakfast menu in New England.

There are blueberry cheesecake flapjacks and jelly doughnut french toast. There’s even red velvet pancakes swirled with chocolate syrup.

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Four-egg omelets are for wimps. At Pogo’s, they have a four-pound omelet, packed with bacon, ham, cheese, kielbasa and pulled pork!

In addition, the restaurant offers plate-tipping whoopie pies, roast beef benedict, and some frighteningly large breakfast sandwiches.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV 38.

The “Sugar Baking Company” in Roslindale is a bakery that does things the old fashioned way.

Apple turnovers are cut, filled, and folded by hand and the classic whipped cream cakes are layered with fluffy golden cake, real whipped cream, and juicy strawberries.

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New Hampshire’s “Portsmouth Baking Company” is known for fragrant French toast bread pudding, vibrant red velvet cupcakes and out-of-this-world chocolate chip cookies.

“Sweet Tooth” in South Boston specializes in special event cakes along with fresh-baked pies and over-sized chocolate cheesecake brownies.

Pumpkin pie is the king of all thanksgiving desserts. But cookie platters, fruit tarts and even cupcakes are getting more and more popular.

The four tangy contenders were Cain’s, Kraft, Newman’s Own, and Wishbone.

Which vinegary salad topper made it to the top of the food chain?

Cain’s got tossed to the bottom of the bowl. Sweet enough to eat for dessert, this syrupy dressing had four times as much sugar as the winner. It also had the least amount of sodium, which underscored the unbalanced sweetness even more.

A step up from there, Wishbone had decent flavor, but it was a little on the lean side, with almost half the fat of the other contenders. While the sweet and the salty sang in perfect harmony, the vinegar needed a stronger voice.

The runner-up is Kraft balsamic vinaigrette. This sweet, tangy recipe boasted the right balance of vinegar and oil, with a subtlety that allowed overtones of garlic and paprika to shine through. For those who prefer delicately flavored dressings, this one might be the bring-home brand.

At the top of the food chain is Newman’s Own. Finally, a vinaigrette with a little power! This assertively tangy brand had plenty of salt, plenty of complexity, and just enough honey and balsamic sweetness to provide a backdrop for the appealing palette of garlic, onion, and red pepper. The sharpest dressed dressing of the salad bar, Newman’s Own is at the top of the food chain.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV 38.

“It’s a Modern Mediterranean Grill. It’s Lebanese inspired. But it has influences from all over the Mediterranean: Greek food, Italian food, pretty much if you’re on the water in the Mediterranean, you may see it on our menu,” said Danielle Berdahn.

Danielle and Carlo Berdahn have created a stylish space with floor-to-ceiling windows and candle light, giving their guests a real feeling of comfort.

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Carlo cooks more than just the cuisine of his homeland in Lebanon. Some of his specialties include pan-seared salmon, a grilled ribeye with wild mushrooms, and plump sea scallops over truffled risotto.

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV 38.

“Evo Dining” on Chandler Street is a swanky and sleek eatery with a menu full of comfort food fusion dishes from around the globe. There’s Mexican-style pizza, Asian steak and cheese bomb and an Italian grilled cheese.

“Ceres Bistro” at the Beechwood Hotel offers farm-to-table dining underneath a beautifully restored stained glass dome. The menu changes with the season, offering dishes like pan-seared crab cakes, steak frites and roast chicken.

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For fine Middle Eastern cuisine, “El Basha” has two Worcester locations that are popular for authentic grape leaves, homemade hummus, and grilled chicken kebobs.

Some other Phantom favorites in Worcester include the One Eleven Chop House, Armsby Abbey and Smokestack Urban Barbecue.

At the Atlantic Beer Garden on the Boston Waterfront, humongous plates of nachos and steak tips are among the biggest sellers. But for a dessert so good it’s scary, check out the deep fried snickers, featuring two tortilla wrapped candy bars, along with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream.

Frederick’s Pastries in North Andover, Mass. plus Amherst and Bedford, New Hampshire is known as one of New England’s best specialty cake bakeries. But when Halloween comes around, M&M’s take center stage. Popular items include crunchy chocolate M&M cupcakes and creamy M&M cupcakes.

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In addition to fish and chips, The Squealing Pig in Mission Hill serves something called the Mars Bar Toastie, which features toasted waffles stuffed with a melted European Mars bar and sliced bananas.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any Kit Kats or Milk Duds on restaurant menus, but I promise you, we’ll keep looking.

Well, if you’re dining at Sweet Basil in Needham, you’re gonna pay a whole lot than less than you’d think.

Dave Becker is the man behind the best dining bargain in town, where the pastas are all handmade right in the open kitchen. You don’t just feel like you’re the help, you feel like you’re actually part of the party.

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The plates are big, and the value is even bigger. Appetizers average $10, while oversized entrees are just $20. And as for the wine, well that’s the best bargain of all, because Sweet Basil is BYOB (bring your own booze).

For more food and fun, watch the Phantom Gourmet every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on myTV 38.