ICA: Symon vs. Brown
There’s something fishy about this week’s Iron Chef America. First, the challenger is Chef Ed Brown of Ed’s Chowder House in New York City. Secondly, this week’s commercial hints at Iron Chef Symon taken surprise by “the catch of the day;” it also shows him carrying what appears to be a King Mackerel. Make that Wahoo, the largest member of the Mackerel family.
Ed Brown wow’d New Yorkers when he opened 81 across 81st Street from the Museum of Natural History. He also wow’d the Michelin folks as well because they awarded him one of their highly coveted stars. But as the boob of the early part of the decade gave way to our current economic state 81 gave way to Ed’s Chowder House.
Ed’s Chowder House is inside the Empire Hotel on 44 West 63rd Street and sure the name says “Montauk” but the interior design screams “Manhattan.” Of course that stands to reason as Brown’s partner at the Chowder House is Jeffrey Chodorow the owner/financier of over two dozen restaurants including some of New York’s trendiest eateries. The collaboration has successfully brought Eastern shore cuisine to the Upper West Side and landed Ed’s on NY Magazine’s “Where to Eat 2010: The Essential Survey of Really Good Food in New York Right Now.” But Brown has done more than just head highly successful restaurants; he also penned the Modern Seafood Cook (available at amazon.com).
Chef Ed Brown enters Kitchen Stadium to face off against Iron Chef Michael Symon. Judges include Anya Fernald, Alpana Singh and Andrew Knowlton. Symon vs. Brown premieres Sunday June 27, 2010 10:00 PM ET/PT.
If you haven’t yet, check out my exclusive interview with Iron Chef Michael Symon.
Click HERE for the outcome.
ICA: Flay vs. Thiam
Finally a new Iron Chef! After the fiasco of last week known as Cupcake Wars (if Twitter comments are any indication that phrase is doomed) we need an actual cooking contest to cleanse our palates, call it Reality Sorbet.
Pierre Thiam is the master of Contemporary West African cuisine. Which stands to reason since the acclaimed Brooklyn chef actually hails from Senegal. Today he is the executive chef at Le Grand Dakar where he has pledged to introduce a love of African food to America. And judging by the critics’ chatter he is doing a good job. Thiam has also sought to further educated the American palate with his book Yolele! Recipes From the Heart of Senegal (available at amazon.com). For more on Chef Pierre here is a fine article from Friend’s Eat.
Senegalese food is famous for its spicy, intense flavors. But Iron Chef Bobby Flay is no stranger to spices of any kind. Both chefs seemed to be in their element when the secret ingredient was announced, papaya. The judges for tonight were Karine Bakhoum (who looks fabulous after dropping some weight but she has retained her voluptuous curves.), Art Smith and Alpana Singh, the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Click HERE for the outcome.
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ICA: Symon vs. Brown – Outcome
SPOILER ALERT: The following information is the outcome of Flay vs. Stone. If you want information on the combatants click HERE. If you are only interested in the outcome read on.
Judges for Battle: Wahoo were Anya Fernald, Alpana Singh and Andrew Knowlton.
Symon Brown
Taste: 24 Taste: 19
Plating: 11 Plating: 10
Originality: 11 Originality: 9
Total: 46 Total: 38
If you haven’t yet, check out my exclusive interview with Iron Chef Michael Symon.
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ICA: Flay vs. Thiam – Outcome
SPOILER ALERT: The following information is the outcome of Flay vs. Stone. If you want information on the combatants click HERE. If you are only interested in the outcome read on.
Judges for Battle: Papaya were Karine Bakhoum, Art Smith and Alpana Singh.
Flay Thiam
Taste: 30 Taste: 25
Plating: 14 Plating: 11
Originality: 15 Originality: 13
Total: 59 Total: 49
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Winner: Iron Chef Flay with a score only one point away from a perfect score. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my exclusive interview with Iron Chef Bobby Flay.
Next week’s match-up features Symon vs. Brown.
