ICA: Forgione vs. Cooper – Outcome
SPOILER ALERT: The following information is the outcome of Forgione vs. Cooper. If you want information on the combatants click HERE. If you are only interested in the outcome read on.
The judges for Battle: Bell Pepper were Karine Bakhoum, Adam Richman and Nigella Lawson
Forgione Cooper
Taste: 28 Taste: 24
Plating: 12 Plating: 13
Originality: 14 Originality: 8
Total: 54 Total: 45
If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out my recent interview with the newest Iron Chef, Marc Forgione HERE.
Next time Jose Garces vs. Mike Lata in Battle: Sparkling Wine.
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ICA: Forgione vs. Cooper
The ninth season of Iron Chef America is here and it features a battle between Chef RJ Cooper and Next Iron Chef 3 winner Marc Forgione. You’ll also notice a slight format change. After each chef presents their menu the Chairman then asks the panel for their overall opinion of the meal.
Chef RJ Cooper, formerly of Vidalia in Washington DC, is the chef/owner of Rogue 24 – an ultra high end eatery in the nation’s capitol. As it stands now, Rogue 24 is the most expensive restaurant in the Beltway but the clientele has no issues with doling out the high prices. Let’s face it, the clientele is made up of politicians who are either putting the tab on their Congressional accounts or having it picked up by lobbyists looking to subvert the democratic process.
Cooper is a James Beard Award winner originally from Detroit. He attended the The Culinary School at Kendall College in Illinois before moving to Atlanta to work with Daniel Schaffhauser at The Ritz Carlton. He has also worked with Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin and he was in charge of the Crow’s Nest Restaurant in The Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. He eventually found himself at Vidalia in 2004 but left this past summer to open his own place.
His opponent will be Next Iron Chef 3 winner Marc Forgione who makes his first appearance in Kitchen Stadium as an Iron Chef. To battle the newest Iron Chef, Cooper appointed Rogue 24’s chef de cuisine Harper McClure along with notable DC pastry chef and long-time friend David Guas of Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery.
Cooper and Guas are long time friends as well as comrades in the kitchen at countless charitable events over the past 10 years. In celebration of this exciting event, Cooper is hosting a benefit for Chefs as Parents (a chef driven, non-profit organization that is working to improve the quality of school lunch programs) coinciding with the premiere. With a $50 donation per person, attendees can enjoy savory hors d’oeuvres from each of the renowned chefs in addition to a mouth watering array of fresh Mid-Atlantic oysters provided by Rappahannock River Oysters, LLC at a special viewing party that will be held from 8pm -12am at Long View Gallery (1234 9th St., NW), a Blagden Alley neighbor of Rogue 24.
The judges for Battle: Bell Pepper were Karine Bakhoum, Adam Richman and Nigella Lawson
If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out my recent interview with the newest Iron Chef, Marc Forgione HERE.
Click HERE for the outcome.
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ICA: Garces vs. Fukushima
When Katsuya Fukushima enters Kitchen Stadium he will be on familiar ground. Fukushima has been here before. . . and won. In April 2007, the incredible Jose Andres took on Iron Chef Bobby Flay in Battle: Goat and Fukushima was there acting as sous chef for Andres.
Fukushima will not be alone as he is bringing fellow Andres disciple Ruben Garcia of Washington DC’s MiniBar with him. Fukushima himself is still part of the Andres empire as he heads up the kitchen at Cafe Atlantico, also in DC. Both restaurants are part of Andres’ Think Food Group which is made up of eight eateries and José Andrés’ Catering with Ridgewells.
Fukushima attended the L’Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Upon graduation in 1996 he took a job working the line at Vidalia under Jeffrey Buben. After Vidalia he then worked at Cashion’s Eat Place, The National Press Club and Jaleo. . . all at the same time! Jaleo is Andres’ flagship restaurant, a tapas bar in Bethesda, MD and it wasn’t long before the young chef dedicated himself to just the one job.
As part of his mentorship of Fukushima, Andres sent him to work and learn at Verbena in New York and an inspiring season at el Bulli under Ferran Adria, Fukushima was then named the Chef de Cusine position at Café Atlántico and Minibar.
Waiting for Chef Fukushima is the newest Iron Chef, Jose Garces. Garces, who had been rumored to be leaving Iron Chef: America is in fact back and looking to continue his undefeated streak.
The judges for Mahi Mahi were Susan Ungaro, Anthony Anderson and Michelle Bernstein.
Click HERE for the outcome.
