The judges for Battle: Basil are all highly accomplished food writers: the angelic Kim Sunée (Trail of Crumbs), the curmudgeonly Jeffrey Steingarten (The Man Who Ate Everything) and the hippy-ish Andrew Knowlton (Bon Appetit Magazine).  With a panel like that the challenger, Fabio Trabocchi, had better bring his lunch because Iron Chef Michael Symon is waiting.

According to Fabio Trabocchi’s web site bio:

Fabio Trabocchi is meticulous about his cooking – from the sourcing of ingredients to the butchering of meat to the Italian traditions that are the foundation of his dishes. This attention to detail is, in turn, evident in his extensive knowledge of Italy’s culinary heritage, skillful techniques and creative imagination. Fabio’s passion for cooking grew organically beside his father and grandparents growing up in Italy’s Le Marche region.

By the age of 8, he was very comfortable in the kitchen, which explains his decision to pursue culinary school in his early teens and his progression of apprenticeships in kitchens throughout the region. By age 16, he was working in the kitchen of a three-star Michelin restaurant, Gualtiero Marchesi, and at 18, he was responsible for the entire kitchen staff at the Michelin one-star Navalge Moena.

Fast forward to the present and Chef Trabocchi is a James Beard Award winner, a published author (Cucina of Le Marche), has run his own multi-star kitchens and is now a challenger on Iron Chef: America.  Unfortunately for the Italian-born chef Michael Symon joins him in Kitchen Stadium.

SPOILER ALERT: Click HERE for the outcome.

Symon                         Trabocchi
Taste: 23                     Taste: 21
Plating: 11                  Plating: 12
Originality: 12          Originality: 12
Total: 46                      Total: 45

Winner: Iron Chef Michael Symon