For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of the Japanese Iron Chef series. Naturally, when Iron Chef America started, I got into that too. Unfortunately, over the years, the challengers who have graced kitchen stadium were none whom I was too interested in, and my interest in the show waned. That is, until I saw the commercial for this episode.
If you don't know who she is, the female chef standing beside Bobby Flay is the present White House Executive Chef, Cristeta Comerford. She is also Filipina (Holla at your girl!), which is an added bonus. I have only been waiting for this day since forever, and it is here at last! How fortuitous that for a whole month, my computer has been out of service, but I finally installed the new graphics card today. So, without further delay, the liveblogging begins!
[Editor--Talk about Murphy's Law! Right in the middle of liveblogging, my computer decided to reboot, which ate the first half of my post. Not to fear though, the episode is airing again on Thursday evening, so I will have my second chance at liveblogging... Wait, is that even possible?]
8:00pm - Here we go! So Alton's walking by a very clean Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Strange. Usually, the ledge is covered in bird poop. And did Alton lose a ton of weight? I'm not liking the Skeletor look.
8:05pm - Ruh roh? According to First Lady Michelle Obama the Secret Ingredient is "anything from the White House garden"? [Oh my God, seriously?! Why is the Professor calling me when I specifically told him that I was going to be live-blogging the show? He will just have to wait.]
8:08pm - No way! Chef Batali is totes strategizing against Chef Flay and Chef Comerford, by taking the tomatillos and cauliflowers first! Sweet! I bet Flay and Comerford win. They have to let the White House chef take this.
8:17pm - Woot! Shout out to a fellow Canadian, Kevin Brauch, and one-fifth of the Fab Five, Ted Allen, as our intel guys.
8:20pm - On my kitchen wish list: A deli slicer!
8:21pm - Nigella Lawson, Jane Seymour, Natalie Coughlin as judges?! Are you kidding me?! For a battle as big as this one, I would have thought they'd bring some serious heavy-hitters like Dana Cowin from Food & Wine magazine, or Jeffrey Steingarten, who would be brutally honest. Even Mo Rocca would be awesome, since he's a political satirist who loves food! But a blah British cook, an actress who has an organic garden at home, and an Olympic swimmer who likes to cook?! Fail!
8:29pm - Scallop mousse. Yum! Quail, however, is something I will never eat whole due to my aversion to birds. Maybe if it's broken down, but definitely now whole!
8:33pm - Ooohh, sweet potato and ricotta cheese filling for raviolo! Now *that* sounds delicious! Deep fried turkey roulade? Interesting concept, kinda risky though, since turkey can dry out so easily.
8:43pm - I wonder how Chef Comerford will showcase her heritage as a Filipina in her food. I haven't really seen any ingredient or technique that's "Filipino".
8:49pm - Of course there are tamales! It is Bobby Flay after all.
8:52pm - What the F? An official White House beehive?! And who is that White House Assistant Chef? Aha, Sam Kass. Sign me up for cooking lessons with him!
9:12pm - Eeek, the race to plate everything before the clock winds down. All the dishes look good, but a little too messy for my liking. But what can you do, when you're half-throwing components on the plate?
9:18pm - Judging begins. I'm actually excited for Alton to cover for the Chairman, since he always hosts the show but never gets to eat the food.
9:59pm - I called it! Flay and Comerford win the Super Chef Battle. I know the show is supposed to be impartial, but I would be hard-pressed to believe that the team the White House chef is on would not win.
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