ICA: Zakarian vs. Chiarello
Challenger Michael Chiarello seeks redemption in his face off against Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian in this grudge match. Chef Chiarello lost to Iron Chef Zakarian in The Next Iron Chef: All-Stars. Judges are Neil Patrick Harris, Donatella Arpaia and David Burtka.
Michael Chiarello is an award-winning chef and owner of critically acclaimed Bottega restaurant in the Napa Valley. He made his mark by combining his Southern Italian roots with the distinctive hallmarks of Napa Valley living. From his earliest childhood experiences – created around his mother’s California kitchen with his extended Italian family of butchers, cheese makers and ranchers – Michael dreamed of becoming a chef one day. Decades later, he has realized his dream – and much more.
Michael has been a national television host of his own shows for more than a decade on PBS, Food Network and Cooking Channel, and he has appeared on the highest-rated food competition shows on television, as well. His Emmy Award®-winning show, Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello, began in 2003 and still airs daily. In 2009 he took second place as a finalist on Bravo’s inaugural Top Chef Masters, and he has appeared as a judge on Top Chef and Top Chef Masters. In the fall of 2011, he will join another highly rated cooking show, The Next Iron Chef, also on Food Network. A popular celebrity guest chef, Michael is a regular contributor to NBC’s The Today Show, CBS’ The Early Show, Martha Stewart Living Radio, Regis & Kelly and the San Francisco Chronicle’s “Inside Scoop Voices” column. Michael lives among his Napa Valley vineyards with his wife and children.
This was a grudge match as Chef Chiarello was one of nine wannabe Iron Chefs taken down by Zakarian in last year’s Next Iron Chef competition. This time Chiarello and Zakarian tangle over a very difficult secret ingredient – scotch. The Chairman’s culinary curveball (this new element is STOOPID) was Scotch Bonnet chilies.
The outcome:
| Zakarian | Chiarello | |
| First Dish | 12 | 10 |
| Taste | 27 | 24 |
| Plating | 11 | 13 |
| Originality | 14 | 13 |
| Culinary Curveball | 14 | 10 |
| TOTAL | 78 | 70 |
ICA: Zakarian vs. Frauneder
Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian faces off against challenger Eduard Frauneder, executive chef at Edi & The Wolf in New York. Judges are Jeffrey Steingarten, Cady Huffman, and John Curtas.
One of the youngest Michelin-starred chefs from Austria, chef Eduard Frauneder began his culinary career at a young age. In his preteens, he worked alongside his father in the multiple bakeries and pastry shops the family owned in Vienna.
Fast forward years later, Frauneder’s passion for food hasn’t waned and he’s managed to bring his home flavors to Alphabet City of all places.
Along with business partner Wolfgang Ban, they opened their second NYC restaurant Edi & the Wolf. The result is a rustic yet sophisticated Austrian bistro. We chatted with the chef about Austrian flavors, grapes and Oktoberfest. To learn more about Chef Eduard Frauneder there is a great interview with him HERE from metro.us.
Waiting for Chef Frauneder is the newest Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian. Expect fireworks. Expect drama. Most of all expect amazing food. Bring on Battle Yak.
Check below for the outcome.
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| Zakarian | Frauneder | |
| Taste | 26 | 20 |
| Plating | 10 | 14 |
| Originality | 10 | 13 |
| Total | 46 | 47 |
ICA: Zakarian vs. Gallante
Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian faces off against challenger Shea Gallante, who is the executive chef at Ciano in New York. The judges for Battle: Pasta are Michael Ruhlman, Candice Kumai and Martin Yan.
Gallante has been wearing a chefs apron from the early age of 14 where he jump started his career and fascination for Italian cooking at a local pizza shop in Upstate New York. It wasn’t long before his hunger for the restaurant world had him enrolling in the Culinary Institute of America, after which he knew his quest would to one day own his own restaurant in New York City. His first job after the CIA was with Pino Luongo at Coco Opera near Lincoln Center. After two years training under him, Gallante began working with the famed Lidia Bastianich at Felidia and was quickly promoted to sous-chef after demonstrating to her his passion for the type of cooking that earned Felidia three stars. After this, Gallante was recruited by David Bouley, whom he credits as the person who has had the most profound effect on his career to date, to work at his eponymous restaurant Bouley. Gallante spent four years working with Bouley before moving on to Cru, where during his time as executive chef the restaurant received three stars in the New York Times by then reviewer Frank Bruni, a Michelin Star, three stars in New York Magazine by Adam Platt and Gallante was also named one of the Best New Chefs in 2005 by Food & Wine.
Chef Shea Gallante has landed back in the New York City dining scene, this time to open a place he can call his own. Having partnered with Philippe Chow principle Stratis Morfogen, Gallante has now signed on as Executive Chef/Co-Owner of Ciano (45 East 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010), a new, seasonal ingredient driven casual and atmospheric Italian restaurant in the former Beppe space in the Flatiron District.
Chef Gallante has a very impressive resume but so does Iron Chef Zakarian.
Check below for the outcome.
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| Zakarian | Gallante | |
| Taste | 25 | 26 |
| Originality | 11 | 14 |
| Plating | 14 | 13 |
| Total | 50 | 53 |
ICA: Zakarian vs. Schenker
Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian faces off against chef Jesse Schenker, chef and owner of Recette in New York. Judges are Julie White, Art Smith and Anya Fernald.
Chef Jesse Schenker manipulates ingredients and temperature to create maximum flavor. He went for his Culinary Degree at the Atlantic Technical Center in Coconut Creek, Fla. During that time, he gained his first professional kitchen experience at Cafe Maxx, guided by Chef Oliver Saucy. From there, he became the Chef de Partie at Chef Mark Militello’s James Beard award-winning restaurant, Mark’s on Las Olas and then onto Sous Chef at Fort Lauderdale’s celebrated Italian restaurant Rino’s Restaurante.
With experience under his belt, Jesse moved to Miami to become Sous Chef at the upscale wine bar, City Cellar Wine Bar and Grille. After wowing the best culinary cities of Florida, it was time to take on the challenge of wowing foodies in the Big Apple. Jesse was offered a position as Chef de Partie at the two-Michelin-star rated Gordon Ramsay at the London. He launched his own venture, Recette Private Dining and teamed up with Savoy Bakery owner Brian Ghaw and Per Se pastry alum Christina Lee, and created up to ten-course tasting menus for exclusive private parties.
Chef Schenker is a talented chef but so is the newest Iron Chef. The Technician is sure to be ready for the challenge in Battle: Plantains.
Check below for the outcome.
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| Zakarian | Schenker | |
| Taste | 25 | 25 |
| Plating | 13 | 14 |
| Originality | 14 | 14 |
| Total | 52 | 53 |
