ICA: Garces vs. Liken

It has been nearly six months since the newest Iron Chef, Jose Garces, did battle.  He is 1-0 as an Iron Chef (Garces is actually 3-0 in Kitchen Stadium after defeating Iron Chef Bobby Flay in 2008 and edging Chef Jehangir Mehta in the NIC finale last year.).  Waiting for him in Kitchen Stadium is Colorado Chef Kelly Liken.

At Kelly Liken’s Vail eatery, Kelly Liken, they have a stated goal of making sure the customer will “get blown away.”  According to the web site, “Kelly Liken, one of Colorado’s most promising and influential young chefs, was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.”  The site also states, “Kelly could not suppress her growing enthusiasm for the world of fine cuisine and enrolled at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where she graduated first in her class in 2002.”

Garces’ first restaurant, Amada (an authentic Andalusian tapas bar) opened in 2005.  2008 was a very busy year.  Not only did he appear on Iron Chef but he also published his first cookbook, Latin Evolution.  Additionally, two of his restaurants (Distrito, Mercat a la Planxa) were named to Esquire Magazine’s list of the 20 Best New Restaurants.  In just five years, Garces has gone from rookie restaurateur to Iron Chef.

The judges for Battle Bleu Cheese were Lou Diamond Phillips, Anya Fernald and Mario Rizzotti.  Again the chairman was missing as this was most likely shot while he was competing on Dancing with the Stars or shooting Samurai for the History Channel.

Click HERE for the outcome.