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"Our ultimate competition is with ourselves. That is what my uncle told me when I would visit him as a young boy... My uncle, the man the world knows as Kaga the Chairman, has decided that although America is a young country, we now possess the proper palate to host our own Iron Chef competition, an American celebration of the world's high art of cuisine." Recaps by Chico Alexander, GSNN
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Symon
vs. Johnson: Battle Cucumber The Challenger: Chef Wayne Johnson. While attending college at Northern Colorado, he was a wrestler and a part-time cook. When he graduated, he stepped into the kitchens at Vail and San Francisco. Today, he heads the kitchen at Andaluca in Seattle, where his Mediterranean flair has won him numerous accolades. Today, he steps into the ring of fire against Iron Chef Michael Symon. Prepare for battle. The Crib Sheet:
The Theme Ingredient: several varieties of cucumber, including but not limited to Kirbys, Englishes, Persians, Brazilians, Lemons, Gherkins, and Mexican gherkins, as well as blossoms.
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. And Battle Cucumis sativus is ON in Kitchen Stadium! The cucumber is a member of the melon family. Technically, the cucumber is a fruit with seeds inside. Their flavor can range from so mild it's not noticeable to extremely strong and tart depending on age and variety. A natural accompaniment to today's secret ingredient.... salmon, as in the one over on Johnson's side AND the Iron Chef Symon's side. It has a lot of melon and cucumber-like scents and flavors. Tonight's Judges... FUN FACT: Cady is also close second in terms of most appearances by a female judge. Number one belongs to Karine Bakhoum. Ice cream, you scream. Technically, sorbet. And as the clock runs down, the Iron Chef has time to whip up a couple of extra cocktails for Kevin and AB. "Five seconds... three... two... one... " And Battle Cucumber is history. Put it down and walk away. TASTING & JUDGMENT Johnson: "Cucumber has such a subtle flavor. Sometimes you have to add flavor to it, but at the same time you don't want to lose that cucumber flavor. So we tried a variety of cucumbers and it came out nice." - Gazpacho Trio Symon: "I didn't just want to go Greek, that'd be too predictable. I kinda did a little bit of everything\." - Cucumber Margarita with Cucumber and Tuna
Ceviche A lot of cucumber flavors and varieties lend to a lot of applications. Creativity definitely on display on both ends of the world, but can there can only be one winner. Johnson has a combination of coolness and heat, of freshness and preparedness. Symon took a little diversionary tactic, especially in the not-pasta dish. And he didn't go just Greek. He went around the world with the cucumber. Whose cuisine reigns supreme?
... 45-38 in favor of Iron Chef Michael Symon. Once again, we witness the incredible insurmountable undeniable power of food as the Iron Chef takes down another challenge in taste and originality. Until next battle, we bid you good eating. To see this episode in its entirety, go to www.foodnetwork.com/ica. |
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