ICA: Flay vs. Christensen
After nearly two months off it is good to see the king of TV cooking shows back. Raleigh-based Chef Ashley Christensen jumps into the pressure cooker of Kitchen Stadium to battle Iron Chef Bobby Flay. Will she rise to the occasion or explode under the pressure?
Ashley Christensen, the chef-owner of Raleigh’s Poole’s Diner is in town tonight and she brings with her the traditions of Carolina cooking. She makes just the third chef from the Triangle area to battle on Iron Chef. Chef Ashley is considered one of the top chefs in the Raleigh area. Last September she was included in Bon Apatit’s article “Women Chefs: The Next Generation,” where she was thrown into good company along side Kelly Liken, Naomi Pomeroy and Allison Vines-Rushing.
The questions is whether Chef Ashley is ready for the heat of Kitchen Stadium where Iron Chef Bobby Flay awaits along with his sexy sous Rene Forsberg and Christine Sanchez. Also waiting is the secret ingredient Chum Salmon and the judges Ben Sargent, Cady Huffman and Jeffrey Steingarten.
Check below for the outcome.
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Flay Christensen
Taste: 20 Taste: 14
Plating: 12 Plating: 11
Originality: 13 Originality: 10
Total: 45 Total: 35
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.
ICA: Garces vs. Liken – Outcome
SPOILER ALERT: The following information is the outcome of Garces vs. Liken. If you want information on the combatants click HERE. If you are only interested in the outcome read on.
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.
Garces Liken
Taste: 27 Taste: 23
Plating: 13 Plating: 11
Originality: 13 Originality: 14
Total: 53 Total: 48
Winner: Iron Chef Garces
