Burger scholar Chef George Motz, owner of Hamburger America in Manhattan, demonstrates how he creates three distinct smash burgers. He details the technique of pressing patties on a hot griddle to seal in flavor and achieve a crispy crust. Motz prepares his classic smash burger, the Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger (which brought him renown), and The Chester, a unique grilled cheese burger, meticulously outlining the ingredients and cooking process for each, emphasizing simplicity and proper method.

In "A Day at NYC's Most Exciting Mexican Restaurant," Bon Appétit spends a day behind the scenes with Chef Yara Herrera, owner and Executive Chef of Hellbender in Ridgewood, Queens. As a first-time owner and executive chef, Yara navigates the daily challenges of running her own restaurant, from meticulously checking closing checklists and unpacking fresh deliveries to preparing signature Mexican dishes. The video highlights the intricate process of making salsa macha, crafting churro batter, expertly breaking down fish for aguachile amarillo, and prepping labor-intensive empanadas, all while fostering a collaborative team environment and ensuring consistency before service begins.

The video explores the long-held belief among New Yorkers that swimming in the East River is dangerous and unhealthy. The host, Jack Coyne, investigates the historical context of New York Harbor's pollution, detailing how, after colonization, overharvesting of oysters and the dumping of human waste and industrial refuse rendered the waters lifeless by the mid-1900s. While the Clean Water Act of the 1970s led to improvements, a significant sewage problem persists due to the city's combined sewer system, which overflows untreated sewage and stormwater into the harbor during heavy rain. Coyne joins the Billion Oyster Project, an organization working to restore a billion oysters to New York Harbor to naturally filter its waters, to conduct water quality tests, showing that the water can be clean on clear days but becomes unsafe after rainfall. He also meets with Urban Swim, which organizes safe open-water swimming events, demonstrating that with proper precautions and support, swimming in these waters is possible and is becoming a powerful form of environmental advocacy.