Michael Symon hosts “Burgers, Brew & ‘Que”

Barbecue. It comes up a lot at this time of year, but there's a good reason for it: nothing says summer quite like the smell of smoke mixing with the mouth-watering scent of slowly cooking meat.

There are a lot of shows on TV at this time of year about barbecue, but they each have enough personality to make them all worth watching. The latest addition to the crowd is "Burgers, Brew & 'Que" on Food Network, which is currently airing Friday nights.

The six-episode series follows Chef Michael Symon through a few cities as he eats his way to some of the best all-American eateries.

Of course, as the show's title would suggest, this isn't just about the "'que." Chef Michael is also chowing down on big, meaty burgers loaded with all the fixins' and washing it all down with some cold, bubbly beer.

In Nashville, he'll be checking out a new burger joint that has its diners coming up with their own custom burgers, and also tests what might be the city's most famous (or infamous, depending on your own tastes) culinary tradition: hot chicken, a dish that pushes even this accomplished eater's heat tolerance to the limit.

Swinging by New York City, he'll be joined by his "Iron Chef" co-star and longtime friend Bobby Flay for a Brontosaurus Beef Rib; by Mario Batali -- another Iron Chef -- for a visit to one of Mario's favorite eateries; and by Alex Guarnaschelli (yet another Iron Chef!) for bottomless beer combined with amazing hotdogs.

Finally, Chef Michael will be heading back to his home state of Ohio. In Cleveland, where the chef was born and raised, he'll be chowing down on one of his personal favorites: the brunch burger, topped with onion rings and a gooey over-easy egg.

Burgers, barbecue and beer: they're favorites of both America and of summer, and Michael Symon is spending Friday nights checking out all three. "Burgers, Brew & 'Que" airs a new episode Friday, July 24, on Food Network.