Do you watch Iron Chef?

[nolachef]

Just curious....Do culinary professionals watch Iron Chef?
Why or why not.

[boar_d_laze]

Yes. To laugh at Cat Cora. [snicker]

BDL

[RAS1187]

Yes, because Morimoto is so freaking amazing and occasionally theres a good local chef that I am familiar with challenging the IC's.

[paulgreen3]

Rachael Ray is the most cerebral cooking show on television. ( Kidding) I like Alton Brown.

[buonaboy]

**** yes!
I watch Iron Chef mostly because there will always be a combination, technique or ingredient that's worth seeing. But I cant stand Bobby Flay.

Now, I watch Top Chef just to laugh. Every thursday morning my cooks and I just pick apart all the dish's on the show. I think it's a good mental exercise.
Although, I think they have to change the title to " top cook"
-ciao

[adamm]

yes, mainly to watch morimoto and the new iron chef(not sure of his name)

[RAS1187]

The japanese version was the absolute best though

[Chefjake54]

I love watching the show because i think its the closest thing on tv to a real night in a restaurant....And I agree with the Top Cook idea

[boar_d_laze]

Re "Top Cook"

It seems to me this year's "elimination challenges" have all been catering rather than restaurant cooking or cheffing. They show's format rarely tests the ultimate restaurant cook's skill of cooking a perfected dish. And never the chef's skills of designing and perfecting a dish and a menu until most of the contestants and their knives have been sent packing. It's all very ad-hoc and large numbers of servings of very few dishes. Still, speed and palate are at a premium throughout.

****'s Kitchen is the one that gets me. Most of those people, I wouldn't let touch my food.

BDL

[nolachef]

Thanks for the post.
Next question is would you compete if asked and who would you want to battle?

[chef33]

Originally Posted by nolachef

Thanks for the post.
Next question is would you compete if asked and who would you want to battle?

I watch it when possible. Not often anymore as we cancelled our cable last year.

I would absolutely do battle.

& i would pick Sakai.

Bobby Flay got lucky. Salsa makin' freak...

[boar_d_laze]

Originally Posted by nolachef

[W]ould you compete if asked and who would you want to battle?

Yes. Cat Cora because I'd have a chance against her. Or, Bobby Flay because my style is more New American Bistro than anything else -- plus a lot of barbecue. It would be fun to go head to head. But he or any of the other Iron Chefs (besides Cora) would undoubtedly clean my clock. I think Cora's cooking is very pretty, but it's too diffuse with too much complication on the plate. And, I'd certainly like to work with a protein or mainline vegetable such as corn.

Are you aware that the choice of IC and "secret ingredient" are the subject of negotiation between the Guest Chef, the network and the IC? That is, the GC doesn't actually choose the Iron Chef, the network does. I'm told that most often the GC and the network discuss possible secret ingredients, with the IC is included in most phases of the discussion. Sometimes the IC suggests the ingredient, which I suppose means the discussion originated with him or her.

The secret ingredient is never a secret. The "open secret" is that the competitors are given a list of five ingredients -- one of which will be chosen at the time of the shoot. But that's as much of a myth as the idea that the Chairman's related to the Chairman from the Japanese show. My understanding is that long before the day of taping the list has usually been reduced to no more than two related ingredients, and more often than not to one. The contestants have plenty of time to prepare and to decide what speicalty pantry items and equipment they'll need. Think about how expensive it would be to shlepp three hundred pounds of stuff across country for molecular ledgerdemain, and never use it.

BDL

[rat]

The American Iron Chef is a joke, all scripted. Did you ever notice every time Bobby Flay goes on the mystery ingredient is a southwest something like Buffalo or Chipolte pepper, same with that fat fu#@ Mario, he is soo gross with that greasy ponytail and those fat fingers YUK!.

Kat Kora Well... She is like the Paris Hilton of the food channel, famous for doing nothing.. Can anyone name a restaurant she has cheffed at that got renowned reviews?? ---ding ding not one!! Who she slept with for that gig I would love to know. But then again I am not a lesbian not that there is anything wrong with that.

Morimoto I like, the only real talent there.

Of the old school Iron Chefs I like Sakai the best.

[RSteve]

There is an enormous amount of misinformation posted in this thread.

I have a close friend who was on the original Iron Chef America production team. We've spoken about the show at length. Much of what has been written in this thread is hearsay; urban legend, if you will..........

Yes. The contestants are informed within a number of parameters what the "secret ingredient" may be. Each may designate what specific ingredients and equipment they want in kitchen stadium. The GC does indicate who he/she wishes to challenge weeks in advance, so the IC can plan his/her regular work schedule.

There is significant rehearsal.

[johnbit]

Yes, but the translation is funny.