Symon
vs. Mooking: Battle Hot Dog
May 29
The Challenger:
Chef Roger Mooking, who, in the mid-90s, was known as MC
Mystic of Bass is Base. Nowadays, he's traded his
ones-and-twos for ovens and stoves at Toronto's Nyood
with his Mediterranean-style cuisine. Not only is he the
host of "Everyday Exotic" on Cooking Channel, but he is
also back in the music business with an album entired,
appropriately enough, "Soul Food". Today, he's hoping
that Iron Chef Mike Symon won't leave a bitter tune on
his tongue.
Prepare for battle.
The Crib Sheet:
SYMON
Katie Pickens & Derek Clayton, sous-chefs |
VS |
MOOKING
Stuart Cameron & Nelson Fernandez, sous-chefs |
Mediterranean |
COOKING STYLE |
Mediterranean |
The Theme Ingredient: Artisanal
hot dogs made by hand by a local butcher specifically for this battle.
The Rules: Each chef must create a
five-course meal, with each course utilizing the theme ingredient,
within 60 minutes. The judges will score the dishes on a
20-point scale: 10 points taste, 5 points plating and
presentation, 5 points creativity and use of ingredient.
The chef that best articulates the theme ingredient
through their dishes wins.
The battle clock is set at 60 minutes, which will start
when the Chairman, with full heart and empty stomach,
utters the words of his dear uncle.... "Allez cuisine!"
And Battle Hot Dog is ON in Kitchen
Stadium! Finally, we demystify this mystic concoction of odd offal.
They're not exactly hot dogs in the sense that we know of, being in link
form. The dark dogs are 100% beef, while the lighter ones are 100% pork.
Symon plans to go all around the world
with hot dogs, while Mooking is going to grind it up into its bare
components and "freak it". We'll see which approach wins the day. So
far, Symon is starting out with... "More meat, AB!"
Tonight's Judges are the hosts with the
mosts...
- Sports broadcaster Boomer Esiason ("The NFL Today" and "Boomer &
Carton in the Morning")
- Sports broadcaster Craig Carton ("Boomer & Carton in the Morning")
- Restauranteur Donatella Arpaia ("The Next Iron Chef")
- TV host Andrew Zimmern ("Bizarre Foods")
"Five seconds... three... two... one... "
And Battle Hot Dog is history. Put it down and walk away.
TASTING & JUDGMENT
Mooking:
"I wanted to take the hot dog and give it a twist and show a little bit of
different tastes and a little bit of adventure."
- Pork Sui Mai
- Pork, Peas, Pears & Plums
- Bangers & Mash
- Hot Dog Garganelli
- Hot Dog Cassoulet
Symon:
"I wanted to pay a lot of respect to the ingredient, and in every dish you have
you really taste the hot dog. I kinda went from country to country."
- Hot Dog & Chicken Liver Crostini
- Hot Dog Tortellini
- Hot Dog with Poached Egg & Lobster
- Hot Dog Poutine
- Hot Dog Polish Boy
The Iron Chef delivered on hot dogs.
Mooking decided to go a different direction and make the hot dog into
something more than what it was? Respect for the ingredient or
creativity on display? Whose cuisine reigns supreme?
|
IRON CHEF |
CHALLENGER |
Taste |
38 |
31 |
Plating |
17 |
16 |
Originality |
19 |
14 |
... 74-61 in favor of
Iron Chef Michael Symon. Again, respect must be paid to
the ingredient, and to the master manipulator of said
ingredient, who manages yet another three-tiered sweep.
Until next battle, we bid
you good eating.
To see this episode in its entirety, go to
www.foodnetwork.com/ica. |