Iron Chef America

[mudbug]

Anyone watch it last night? There was a "making of" show preceding it.

I was hoping this spinoff would be better than it turned out to be. I think I prefer the corny play-by-play done by the Asian folks.

Maybe it will be better when Mario steps up to the range.

[htc]

I saw it. It wasn't as bad as the version they had on UPN with William Shatner as host. Though I still like the original. I was actually really impressed with Batali's performance. He did a lot better than I thought he would. He doesn't strike me as a very creative chef (from his show), though he proved me wrong. :)

[LEFSElover]

I watched it, it was just okay in my eyes.
Not a big fan of RB or his cooking/recipes so didn't throw myself totally into it. BF was his usual self. The buffalo main ingredient isn't something I ever want to taste and I thought that the judges were not completely convinced either. JC sort of picked through her food, or at least to me, it looked that way.

[Lugaru]

How does it compare to the iron chef america "battle of the masters" episodes? I really liked those and I even got my biased roomie to enjoy them once he noticed the amazing creativity displayed in Mario vs Morimoto and Flay vs Sakai.

And while I really dont like bobby flay and I cant picture watching him week after week, he is an amazing chef and displayed LOTS of creativity vs morimoto and sakai. He also whips out REAL mexican cooking for his central dishes sometimes, which is a treat to watch.

Now while I dont expect the show to match the honest charm of the japanese series, well the first episodes of the japanese series where so-so too. Once Alton Brown get's used to doing live tv (he gets choked up too much) the show should be great.

[Ardge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEFSElover I watched it, it was just okay in my eyes. Not a big fan of RB or his cooking/recipes so didn't throw myself totally into it. BF was his usual self. The buffalo main ingredient isn't something I ever want to taste and I thought that the judges were not completely convinced either. JC sort of picked through her food, or at least to me, it looked that way.

Who is RB and JC?

I missed the show! I was working as usual. I never get to see ANY good shows anymore. I really need a Tivo.

RJ

[Michael in FtW]

I have mixed feelings about it. The new chairman is a dork ... but then he isn't a professional actor like his Uncle Kaga (sp?). I miss the "commentary panel" - I like AB but I miss the banter among the 3-4 commentary panel members. One thing I don't miss is the old biddy on the right-hand end of the judging panel that was a permanent fixture (Kishi - or something like that) that in the beginning was a fortune teller, then an astroleger, then a real estate agent, and finally a food critic (guess that shows how long I've watched the show).

ICA certainly lacks some of the glamor of ICJ. The ICA set is sparse and lacks the glamor of the original ICJ.

Maybe in time it will get better. Remember, we haven't seen much of the first season of ICJ. Who knows how bad it was in the beginning????

As for Bobby Flaw doing "real" Mexican cuisine??? ... he wouldn't what that was if he tripped over it! The only reason he beat Rick Bayless (who does cook authentic regional Mexican) was by 1 point on plating.

[pdswife]

I watched for a few minutes.. but,
I realized that " A GOOD MEN " was on at the same time.
I watched the movie. It's my favorite!!

[htc]

Michael, I agree with your take on Bobby Flay (though I don't know how much weight it carries, a Chinese person critiquing Mexican cooking--I don't know how to cook authentic Mexican cuisine, just have tasted it a lot from home cooks)

Though I guess this isn't the forum to argue about whether Flay is competent or not. It's a IC chat, so I'll leave the rest alone. :)

[cooking=love]

I think Rick Bayless should have won. The judges seemed to dislike Bobby Flay's food. They said his buffalo was overcooked twice.
Also, it was a bit unfair using meat that not very many people have eaten.

I dislike Bobby Flay, I wanted him to lose. You are right Michael from FW. Flay does not make "real" mexican. I grew up in the deep south of Texas I know the real thing.

[Lugaru]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooking=love I grew up in the deep south of Texas I know the real thing.

You know I keep encountering this a lot. Texas is almost the worse thing that has happened to Mexican cooking, the "I know some one who is Mexican so that makes it authentic".

Seriosly, I spent my first 22 years living in Mexico, I know what the real thing is. The real thing is dishes inspired on the Yucatan peninsula, the Michuacan use of fruits, the Puebla use of dried peppers, the Nayarit style seafood... I've seen all this displayed by Flay. I still hate the guy but I can see in his dishes that he know's exactly what he is doing.