Watch Me (Gulp) Judge Iron Chef America Tonight!
If you're in Sitka, Alaska tonight then please join me, my friends, and colleagues to watch me judge Iron Chef America! No, really! Iron Chef Bobby Flay battles Chef Gabrielle "Breastfeed This, Bitch" Hamilton! Michael "Fluffy" Ruhlman and Karine "Va-va-va-voom" Bakhoum judge too! I might tell a few behind-the-scenes stories that had better never get back to Food Network HQ. Because what happens in Sitka stays in Sitka. Or you sleep with the fishes my friend. And around here that's on the bottom with halibut.
What: Iron Chef America Viewing Party (cash bar)
When: Sunday, 20 July 2008, 8 p.m. AKDT (Alaska Daylight Time)
Where: Kelly's, 1617 Sawmill Creek Road, Sitka, AK
Iron Chef America, Flay vs. Hamiton (with Judge Chu!), premieres tonight Sunday, 20 July 2008 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT/AKDT on Food Network and airs seven times (!) this week:
Sunday, 20 July 2008, 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT/AKDT
Sunday, 20 July 2008, 12 a.m. ET/PT, 11 p.m. CT/AKDT
Thursday, 24 July 2008, 11 p.m. ET/PT, 10 p.m. CT/AKDT
Thursday, 24 July 2008, 2 a.m. ET/PT, 1 a.m. CT/AKDT
Saturday, 26 July 2008, 5 p.m. ET/PT, 4 p.m. CT/AKDT
Saturday, 26 July 2008, 11 a.m. ET/PT, 10 a.m. CT/AKDT
Saturday, 26 July 2008, 2 a.m. ET/PT, 1 a.m. CT/AKDT
So please don't tell me you missed the show. Even if you don't have TiVo like I don't. David and Susan, of course you're exempt because you're out of the country.
***SPOILER ALERT***
If you don't want to know the secret battle ingredient then don't read the comments yet! But thanks for all the quick comments!
Congratulations! That's awesome! I would love to see it, do you know when it might be airing on Food Network?
Posted by: Eric (chef-blogs.com) | 20 July 2008 at 09:34
Eric - thanks! It also premieres on Food Network tonight. I've updated the post above with all the airtimes.
Posted by: Louisa | 20 July 2008 at 11:25
I would love to judge ICA. I would love to go to Alaska. Darn, you are living my life for me! LOL! I am watching and enjoying, have fun in Sitka.
Posted by: Stuart Reb Donald | 20 July 2008 at 20:23
Loved your comment about the zucchini being a great complement for savory and indeed having its own character . . . Love to see a judge speak up like that.
But geesh. That's a lot of zucchini.
Posted by: Sarah | 20 July 2008 at 20:24
I just watched the show! You were awesome and have such a great knowledge of food.
Posted by: Marissa | 20 July 2008 at 21:09
Mama and I watched the show! You were clear, concise, and convincing in your comments. I believe you even got Rhulman to see the light, that and the excellent-looking food, of course. Loved the secret ingredient--I used to grow it in my garden when I had a yard. As soon as I figured Lamont was home from Three Doors Down Cafe, I called and told him about your being on the show; he said, "Cool," and immediately asked when it would replay so that he could tape it. It comes on again at midnight, and he and Leland (who had been cooking at Nostrana) will watch it tomorrow when they're both off work.
Portland Oregon Daily Photo
Posted by: Lynette | 21 July 2008 at 00:59
I carefully noted the time and tuned in. The most noted culinary ingredient in Sitka is... zucchini???
I watched the Military Channel instead.
Posted by: MikeLM | 21 July 2008 at 01:40
Stuart - having huge fun in Sitka. And yes, I'm still pinching myself - for the judging and Alaska.
Sarah - thanks. I just had to speak up - even if it was against the beloved Michael Ruhlman! And it was a lot of food overall - I wanted to eat it all but just couldn't.
Marissa - thanks too - but every day I'm humbled by how much more someone else knows about food.
Lynette - thanks so much for watching. Hope your boys enjoy the show as much as you did.
MikeLM - hell to the no - the most noted culinary ingredient in Sitka is King - as in salmon - and halibut and dungeness crab and sea urchin and even bear eggs (post coming on those). Zucchini was just the most notable culinary ingredient in the Kitchen Stadium tonight. Military Channel - didn't know there was one - does sound interesting. And it's a Discovery channel no less. http://military.discovery.com/
Posted by: Louisa | 21 July 2008 at 02:29
Hi there! Just writing in because I caught you on Iron Chef last night and was like, "Hey, that's a blog I've read before!" It was great to see someone up there who could make zucchini sound appealing; before your impassioned comments, I'd rather tended to agree with Rhulman in finding it kinda tasteless. I guess I'm just cooking it wrong!
Also - did Flay and Hamilton really make a bet about the loser having to clean the winner's apartment? Because I really don't see Flay holding up his end of the bargain :p
Posted by: Sara no H. | 21 July 2008 at 09:31
Hey, i saw you on ICA last night and I had to come find your blog. It had to be so cool to be a judge, you did a great job last night.
Also do the chefs have time before the battle to plan out what there are making???
Posted by: Jt | 21 July 2008 at 10:53
Great job on iron chef. You had some very insightful comments. Though I love Ruhlman's writing, I think he came off a bit snarky in person. Zucchini has no flavor? Please. What is he, 5? You and Karine held the fort and by the end he was keeping his mouth shut.
So...what was your favorite dish? What does mastic taste like?
Posted by: sara | 21 July 2008 at 15:18
Hi Louisa, damn, I wish I could have seen you! I would ask my mother to record the show for me but she's a bit of a Luddite and isn't good at operating machines. But maybe you'll be on Youtube in the near future!
ttyl
susan
Posted by: Susan in HK | 22 July 2008 at 00:12
Congrats Louisa! I caught it Sunday night and I thought you were great! What an interesting challenge to judge too. Do you think you'll be back for more episodes?
Posted by: Anita | 22 July 2008 at 12:05
Sara - they did make that bet - don't know if/when/how it played out yet.
JT - yes, the chefs get a list of 3 to 5 possible ingredients from Food Network about 6 weeks before their taping.
Sara - my favourite dish was Gabrielle's "ugly duckling" dish - the tian. Mastic doesn't have that much taste on its own - but the way she made it was slightly sweet and nice and chewy - like caramel.
Susan - it should be on YouTube, right? I mean what's the point of having of being Asian if friends and family don't hook us up? ;)
Anita - thanks! I hope I'll be back on. I was invited back this past June but things didn't work out!
Posted by: Louisa | 22 July 2008 at 15:20
Caught you on ICA, great job! Has anyone posted the menu, I wanted to try to recreate one of Bobby's dishes but don't remember the ingredients he mentioned.
Thanks, keep up the great work!
Posted by: Milton Calhoun | 23 July 2008 at 17:01
I loved your comments on the show! they were so precise and intelligent and I thought to myself "wow...there's someone who knows how to talk about the taste of food"
congratulations :)
Posted by: mispellled | 26 July 2008 at 23:57
Hey, there’s a new website about to launch called Behind the Burner: it features exclusive tips on products and cooking techniques, as well as video demonstrations with New York City’s best chefs! Be sure to check out the website, www.behindtheburner.com, where you can sign up for email updates and more info.
Posted by: kristina | 20 September 2008 at 22:10