The Chewed Up crew wraps their Miami week at the W South Beach with a bold, flavor-packed finale alongside Miami-born chef and Food Network standout Mika Leon.

Mika brings the group deep into authentic Cuban cooking, skipping the tourist-famous Cuban sandwich in favor of a true local staple: pan con lechón. Built from slow-roasted pork shoulder marinated in a garlic-heavy mojo, the dish delivers rich, citrusy flavor with perfectly crisped edges and signature chicharrón.

The sandwich comes together with sautéed onions, a smoky-spicy cumin aioli, and a surprising crunch from shoestring potatoes — a combination that hits every texture and flavor note.

Along the way, Mika shares her journey from baking in her mom’s garage to launching a food truck and competing on Food Network, all while staying true to her Cuban roots. The conversation moves from Miami food culture to late-night hustle, parenting, and the realities of the restaurant industry.

The episode wraps with a Cuban coffee demo (complete with espuma technique), a surprise guest appearance, and one of the most satisfying bites of the season.

Guest: Mika Leon 

Social: (@mikabites)

👉 Grab the full recipe + more at: https://www.chewedupshow.com/recipes

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Miami energy

02:30 – Meet Mika Leon

06:30 – Lechón + mojo breakdown

09:00 – Shredding pork + cooking onions

11:30 – Food truck story

14:30 – Toasting bread in pork fat

16:30 – Spicy cumin aioli

17:30 – Building the sandwich

19:30 – First bites

21:30 – Mika’s origin story

24:30 – Chew It or Screw It

30:00 – Cuban coffee demo

35:00 – Surprise guest

37:30 – Fan giveaway

🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

Frontgate → Premium home, kitchen, and entertaining essentials — including Michael Symon’s collection featured on the show.

https://frontgate.com

W South Beach → Iconic Miami beachfront hotel bringing vibrant energy and luxury hospitality

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/miaws-w-south-beach/overview/

Produced by Simple Alien → https://www.simplealien.com/

Camera, Audio and Crew provided by TV Boy → https://tvboynyc.com/

About Chewed Up

Three lifestyle icons reunite with zero filter, strong opinions, and even stronger flavors. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon are back in the kitchen with comedy, comfort food, and unfiltered conversation — served loud. Episodes drop 3x a week: 

* Monday – Appetizers 

* Wednesday – Mains 

* Friday – Desserts 

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Fan Giveaway

This week’s Giveaway: Cuban moka pot + Cuban coffee

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