ICA: Morimoto vs Cora vs Symon
The first ever Iron Chef Three-way!
The branches of the United States military always work together to protect the country, but there also is an intense competitive spirit among the divisions of the armed forces. The Army, Navy and Marines move their rivalry to Kitchen Stadium and join forces with three Iron Chefs in the ultimate Military Grill Battle. Iron Chefs Morimoto, Symon and Cora travel to Hawaii where each will team with a well-seasoned cook from a different branch of the military.
At the scenic and historic Marine Base Hawaii at Kane’ohe Bay on the island of Oahu, the Iron Chefs and their military cohorts must cook to impress a tough panel of judges highlighting the usage of a world class grill and a bounty of Hawaiian ingredients in their culinary arsenal.
It’s good to see Cat Cora don her Iron Chef jacket one more (or is it one last?) time. The judges for Battle: Ahi Tuna were Daniel Dae Kim, Sunny Anderson and Simon Majumdar
Check below for the outcome.
Morimoto | Cat Cora | Simon | |
Taste | 25 | 24 | 26 |
Plating | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Originality | 13 | 12 | 15 |
Total | 51 | 48 | 53 |
Anthony Bourdain and Morimoto, Together?
On the Monday August 11, 2008 episode of No Reservations, Tony Bourdain ventures through the exciting culinary adventure to be found in Tokyo. His guide along the way is none other than Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. On the No Reservations site you can view highlights from the show as well as get a list of restaurants and what not Tony enjoyed while in the Land of the Rising Sun. There are also crew blogs and Tony’s photo journal. Check it out!
Food Detectives host Ted Allen
Originally posted at Edible TV on August 19, 2008.
I guess it shows how much of a foodie geek I am that I waited with great anticipation for Food Network’s latest hit Food Detectives with Ted Allen. I was justly rewarded. Food Detectives is very entertaining and host Ted Allen is charming. He’s been a judge on every season of Top Chef (Bravo) and Food Network’s “Iron Chef America.” But Ted first hit the small screen on the much beloved Queer Eye for Straight Guy.
Today Allen is an award winning food writer and cookbook author, he is the spokesman for Robert Mondavi Private Selection, and now the host of a hit TV show. According to Allen the ratings for Food Detectives have been great. In fact, the show’s popularity is growing so much that actually had their best ratings the same night the world tuned in to watch Michael Phelps make Olympic history.
Recently, I got to speak with Ted. What I had planned to be a professional interview turned into two foodies sharing tips and stories of culinary adventure. Here’s the interview part:
What has the journey from “Queer Eye” to “Food Detectives” been like?
Things have worked out so well. Queer Eye was a hit and ran for a hundred episodes. I’ve been on every season of Top Chef and Iron Chef: America. I’ve been able to maintain a presence doing something I’m passionate about.
How did the idea of Food Detectives come to fruition?
There have been a few similar shows, the most notable being Alton Brown’s show Good Eats and there was the Secret Life of. But we felt that food lore wasn’t being done. On Good Eats, what Alton does so well is he teaches the science. Alton instructs, we explore. We test the science.
When you judge on Iron Chef and the theme ingredient is revealed do you try to figure out what you would make if you were the challenger?
Of course. Definitely. I don’t think I would think of any of the stuff Morimoto comes up with. And I’m blown away by Michael Symon. Barry (Barry Rice, Allen’s partner and an accomplished interior designer) and I have eaten at both of his restaurants in Cleveland and really enjoyed them. All of them are just amazing Mario, Cat, Bobby Flay.
Speaking of Flay, Ted offered this anecdote:
We used to live across the street from Bobby and his wife, Stephanie March. Barry had recently finished redoing our kitchen when we ran into Bobby and Stephanie on the street. They were getting ready to redo theirs so we invited them up to have a look. At one point Barry says, “You two should come over for dinner.”
I’m thinking, “there’s no way I’m cooking dinner for Bobby Flay.”
One last question, how does one become a judge on Iron Chef?
(Laughter) Get to know the guy who chooses them.
Photo courtesy of about.com.