ICA: Forgione vs. Zimmerman
Iron Chef Marc Forgione faces off against challenger Andrew Zimmerman, executive chef at Sepia in Chicago. Judges for Battle: Cream Cheese are Mario Rizzotti, Alison Sweeney and Jason Sobocinski.
Growing up in New York in the ‘80’s, Andrew Zimmerman’s childhood goal was to be a rock star. He pursued music into his early 20’s, supporting his dream by working in local restaurant kitchens. Over the years, he realized that he was a better cook than musician, and that his true calling was in the kitchen. He worked for nearly three years under Renato Sommelia, whom he cites as one of his strongest culinary mentors, and then enrolled in the prestigious French Culinary Institute. Zimmerman graduated first in his class in 2000 and never looked back.
After three years working on the East Coast, Zimmerman was ready to make a move. Drawn to Chicago by the abundance of world-class restaurants, he accepted a position at the Park Hyatt Chicago working alongside Sandro Gamba. In 2004, he met restaurateur Terry Alexander, who hired him as Executive Chef at MOD. From there, the duo opened widely acclaimed del Toro. Zimmerman followed that up with a stop at NoMI where he met restaurateur Emmanuel Nony, and the following year, Nony offered Zimmerman the executive chef position at Sepia.
Zimmerman’s cuisine at Sepia blends rustic and contemporary styles, with flavors influenced primarily by the Mediterranean and France. His food is direct and seasonally based, utilizing product from local and regional farms whenever possible. Under Zimmerman’s direction, Sepia received a sought-after star rating from the Michelin Guide in 2010.
Chef Zimmerman’s reputation is indeed impressive but so is Iron Chef Marc Forgione.
Check below for the outcome.
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| Forgione | Zimmerman | |
| Taste | 23 | 23 |
| Originality | 12 | 14 |
| Plating | 12 | 12 |
| Total | 47 | 49 |
ICA: Forgione vs McClain
After a summer nearly devoid of new ICA action this is the second fresh episode in a row. This time, Iron Chef Marc Forgione faces off against challenger Shawn McClain, the executive chef at Sage, at Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Martin Yan, Ching-He Huang and Adam Richman are the judges for this battle.
Shawn McClain, executive chef of Sage at ARIA Resort & Casino, has a knack for balancing innovative concepts with refinement and sensibility. His spirited New American menu takes the seasons as its departure point, tapping the freshness of California’s fertile environment to produce elevated flavor combinations interwoven with Mediterranean undercurrents.
A native of San Diego, Calif., and a 1990 graduate of the School of Culinary Arts at Kendall College in Evanston, Ill., McClain’s star rose quickly in the culinary world. He broke onto the national scene at Trio restaurant in Evanston, earning four stars from both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. There, his style came into focus, one that juxtaposes Eastern influence with Western foundations. After seven accolade-filled years, he left to open Spring – his homage to seafood. The restaurant opened in 2001 to extraordinary critical and consumer success. That same year, Spring was nominated for the James Beard Foundation’s Best New Restaurant award, and McClain was named Esquire magazine’s Chef of the Year. In 2002, he appeared in “40 Under 40,” Crain’s Chicago Business’ highly competitive list of who’s who in the city.
Chef McClain’s food had better be Zen perfect when he goes up against Iron Chef Marc Forgione in Battle: Tropical Ingredients.
Check below for the outcome.
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| Forgione | McClain | |
| Taste | 41 | 46 |
| Plating | 20 | 17 |
| Originality | 17 | 20 |
| Total | 78 | 83 |
ICA: Forgione Brothers vs. Campanaro Brothers
Two teams of culinary brothers meet in Kitchen Stadium. Iron Chef Marc Forgione teams up with his brother, Bryan, to face off against Challenger Joey Campanaro and his brother Lou. Joey Campanaro makes his second appearance in Kitchen Stadium, having previously been bested by Iron Chef Cat Cora in Battle Venison. Judges are Cady Huffman, Mario Rizzotti and Anya Fernald.
Joey Campanaro was raised in an Italian-American household in Philadelphia where the food of his childhood inspired him to make cooking his vocation. With a culinary approach firmly rooted in his 
Italian grandmother’s kitchen and honed in a range of America’s top restaurants, Joey brings a lifelong affinity for Mediterranean cuisine to every dish he creates.
Lou Campanaro has always loved his family and loved to cook. At his new Philadelphia restaurant, Village Belle, he gets to incorporate those two things into his daily life, working in the kitchen alongside his brother Joey. Leo was also on Joey’s last team to enter Kitchen Stadium.
Bryan Forgione is the son of one of America’s great chefs, Larry Forgione – the godfather of modern American cuisine. Bryan is also the little brother of Iron Chef Marc Forgione who earned his title by winning Next Iron Chef 3. The younger Forgione is also the executive chef at Society Café Encore in Las Vegas so he’s no slouch either.
This battle of the brothers should prove interesting with a secret ingredient like parmigiana reggiano. If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out my exclusive interview with Iron Chef Marc Forgione (HERE).
Check below for the outcome.
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Forgiones Campanaros
Taste: 25 Taste: 21
Plating: 13 Plating: 12
Originality: 15 Originality: 10
Total: 53 Total: 43
ICA: Flay/Symon vs. Garces/Forgione
There are few things better than a Iron Chef on Iron Chef show down. Tonight on a special Iron Chef was the annual Battle: Thanksgiving with Bobby Flay and Michael Symon teaming up to take on the last two Next Iron Chef winners Jose Garces and Marc Forgione.
These types of battles are always fun. There’s no mystery – you know in advance who the competitors are, what the theme is and all that is left is to make some of the best Thanksgiving food ever. Ever.
The judges for tonight’s Battle: Thanksgiving were Karine Bakhoum, Henry Winkler and Cady Huffman. This was the first time in Kitchen Stadium for the Fonz.
Check below for the outcome.
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Flay/Symon Garces/Forgione
Taste: 29 Taste: 25
Plating: 15 Plating: 14
Originality: 15 Originality: 15
Total: 59* Total: 54
*One point shy of a perfect score.
