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: Garces vs. Weitzman
Iron Chef Jose Garces faces off against challenger Rebecca Weitzman. Chef Weitzman is the executive chef at Redwood Kitchenette in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. The judges for Battle: Silkie Chicken are Karine Bakhoum, Art Smith, and Julie White.
Chef Weitzman grew up just outside of Boston but has made her bones working in some of the most well respected kitchens in the Big Apple. That includes time spent working for chef Bobby Flay at Mesa Grill, Bolo and Bar Americain as well as ‘inoteca Restaurant. Pedigreed toque Rebecca Weitzman made her name thrilling Park Slopers with locavore plates at Thistle Hill Tavern (where she is still partner, though no longer head chef). After a brief stint at gourmand movie-theater café Indie Food and Wine, the CIA grad has turned up at the cheery Chelsea diner, sporting redwood paneling, U-shaped teal banquettes and a blown-up vintage photo of a trailer amid crisp fall foliage, plus an actual shiny Airstream trailer retrofitted to serve as a bar.
If Chef Rebecca looks familiar to Food Network viewers it’s because she competed on Chopped back in 2010 on an episode called “First Things Worst.” There she took home the win making a dessert that included baby bananas, coconut flakes, pumpernickel rye and soy sauce. Hopefully that experience will translate into a solid performance in Kitchen Stadium but it won’t be easy as Iron Chef Jose Garces will be waiting.
Check below for the outcome.
| Garces | Weitzman | |
| Taste | 27 | 22 |
| Plating | 15 | 12 |
| Originality | 15 | 11 |
| Total | 57 | 45 |
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 |
