The Next Iron Chef

[figmo]

I watch Food Network. A lot. Sunday night I watched "The Next Iron Chef." This is a show where eight chefs get to compete to be the 5th "iron chef" in "Iron Chef America."

Food Network claims one of the existing Iron Chefs, Mario Batali, will continue to appear in "Iron Chef America," but the New York Post claims he's leaving the network altogether.

Anyhow, after catching the first show I already know who I want to win: John Besh. Even if the guy doesn't win I'd like to see him get his own show. I've seen him on several Food Network shows. He's not only a good chef, he's entertaining. When he was on Iron Chef America against Mario Batali he was a hoot and he beat Batali soundly. For example, when he grabbed a couple of lobsters he exclaimed, "Look! Crawfish on steroids!"

I was hoping to see more of Traci des Jardins, who was eliminated in the first round. I was really surprised they didn't bump Michael Symon, who didn't do well in the first challenge and showed no originality in the second one. I could see why des Jardins was invited -- like Besh, she beat Batali on Iron Chef America. I could not, however, figure out why Symon was invited. When he competed on Iron Chef America he lost. If he can't outcook an Iron Chef, what is he doing trying to be one?

Here's the part that gets me: According to the 7th response to this post, Symon wins. I have also read that Michael Ruhlman is a close friend of Symon's.

I am hoping the post is wrong, but somehow I fear it isn't.

Comments

[howeird]

Call me when they update this to Anodized Aluminum Chef.
;-)

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

The current title has lots of iron-y ... that one wood not. :-)

[howeird]

Ouch and Ouch. I hate it when my suggestions get panned.

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Getting panned? Careful -- we may both be going to pot. :-)

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

there's a certain amount of skillet takes to avoid that

[osewalrus.livejournal.com]

Becky and I watched last night. We initially were only going to watch a few minutes, because we were tired. But ended up getting hooked and watching the whole thing.

I'm rooting for Aaron Sanchez. The man totally impressed me with his knife work and seed in the first challenge. And I thought his dessert work very nice as well.

I wouldn't mind Besh. He's very talented and telegenic and he has that New Orleans thing going for him. But do we really need two southern cooks? I know New Orleans is not the same as the cuisine prepared by Cat Kora, but I think Sanchez would bring something really new to the show in terms of style, speed and artistry.

I have to say one of the things I really liked in the first ep is the camaraderie among the contestants. They are all rooting for each other and working together like real professionals. None of this hyper-competitive sabotage each other crap.

And I don't believe the 7th Response for a minute. He gave away too much info on himself and, if real, would have been caught and the post pulled. I think he is a fake.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

Sanchez really impressed me in the first challenge, but the chorizo dessert didn't sound too good.

I'm taking a wait-and-see attitude with him.

I'd still like to see Besh have his own show no matter what.

[r-wolfcastle.livejournal.com]

Crawfish on steroids ??? Soooooooooooo glad I don't watch this show. He sounds like more of a ham (by which I mean jerk) than Emeril, and that is extremely difficult to do.

When I search for recipes on the Food Network site, I give Emeril's recipes first consideration always, because the man really can cook an amazingly diverse range of dishes very well, and in tune with my own tastes. But to get me to watch his show you'd have to pull a Clockwork Orange on me, and it sounds like watching John Besh would be even worse.

To each his/her own, thankfully.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

The difference between Besh and Lagasse is Besh has really good technique.

I'd liken Besh to being a Creole version of Martin Yan.

[r-wolfcastle.livejournal.com]

Ah, that helps -- thanks. Martin was always a bit cutesy for my taste, but still eminently watchable. Emeril, on the other hand, makes me grit my teeth and reach for things to throw at the TV. Or, as an executive chef on a chef's mailing list where I loitered once said, "If he blackens one more thing, or says bam! one more time, I'm going to puke."

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

I can see Sanchez, Besh, or Morou. Symon got by mainly because he actually did something with his odd ingredient, instead of simply dropping it on top as des Jardins did, but then again, her ingredient was much more delicate.

The real problem here is that this is another case of Food Network's repeated shark jumps since 2000 or so. With the exception of Good Eats, they really haven't come up with anything good in the last few years.

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Having just read Emeril Lagasse's bio on Wikipedia, I am wondering how religious he is.

Why? Because of his liking of pork fat. After all, the lard moves in mysterious ways ... ;-)

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

In the second episode, Symon earned his props in the single-bite test. OTOH, I am surprised that Aaron Sanchez made the mistakes he did.