cooking @ home

Now that we’re at the half way point of the mini — repeat, very mini — series known as the six episodes of The Next Iron Chef (NIC) … cheers and jeers. As you can expect, the cheers go to the chefs, the jeers to the judges.

First my picks. It’s so much my own fault I didn’t say this prior to episode one when their were eight contenders, or even last week; saying it now, big deal, two out of four you’ll say. Anyhow, I do say now (and this hasn’t changed since the start, really) I think it’s going to be Besh or Symon. Again, thought so before it started, but only I know I’m telling you the truth here.

Besh and Symon Shine

Why these two? Sheer talent displayed in previously as Iron Chef America contenders that has only been reinforced here in this program. It took me a while to realize Symon was previously “the guy with lots of hair when Bill Murray was in the audience”. Both he and Besh impressed me not only with their cooking in those past food combats, but that they also had things so under control that they easily talked with Alton as they cooked. So many chef challengers are under such fire, we never hear the kind of repartee we do between an Iron Chef and Alton. So those that do always stand out more in my mind.

Besh, I love his sense of humor and his confidence. I saw him in a seafood competition between states on The Food Network and not knowing who he was at the time, I instantly like the guy. Eventually I realized he and this other one was the same person and said Ah, this guy is already a foodie star, he’s going to be a food personality on TV some day. One more thing, of all the eight, these two seem to actually, even under stress, be having the most fun. Even if things are going wrong, they express confidence. So did Jill Davie, though her fare didn’t live up to it. Those three, now two, seemed more than the other’s to “be in their element”. Sanchez at first seems one could knock that he seems to be in perpetual frenzy each time — but then you realize that Bobbie Flay reacts similarly nearly every Iron Chef competition. And we love Bobby and he usually wins, so we can’t knock Aarón for it. To me for some reason Cosentino is the mystery man.

Fine, that out of the way, some more cheers. Symon making a drink (and therefore a third offering when everyone was making two) was very impressive. His doing polenta when no one else did and succeeding in the time to do it, amazing. And Besh oil frying on the grill was excellent. As was his three catfish deserts on the first episode’s challenge. And Kaysen shows he will only get better in the near future; a potential superstar come 2010. Oh, and for giving Sanchez coals … hey, no good deed goes unnoticed or unpunished on NIC, huh? Major kudos for the best sportsmanship of the competition thus far!

Three Giant Cheers to Marou

Now a major, three-Michelin star shout out to Marou — which leads directly into the judges jeers. To Marou for standing his ground and basically saying (my words, not his) “Hey, this is me. You’re trying to change me. I’m not going for it.” He is the only chef so far who by basically chosen himself to leave. They even said his venison dish was the best of the competition, but because he doesn’t listen to them for presentation they got rid of him?

What is this? Grammar school? The judges have now set them up as teachers and best chefs in America if they don’t pay attention to them are expelled? Worse, the judges are themselves acting like children. We love every meal you did, you won this competition by taste, but we hate your plating, you won’t change so see ya. Insanity?!

Btw, do you judges even know plating is 5 points, taste is 20? Or didn’t you get the score card yet on how the show actually works? It seems you didn’t by your actions. Seems you’re going contrary to the spirit of the show for … reasons unknown. But being “true”, nope. You’re failing, judges. Miserably.

Listen to Us or You’re Outta Here

Worse, the judges egos balloon each week. I don’t know if they will be able to fit their heads through the doors next week. Why? Same thing. Now they are telling the chefs who they should be. Not just how they should plate. For Marou who wisely left — again, you so very much have my admiration for doing that, chef!! For Marou his plating was “him”. And they wanted to change that and he didn’t. Now the judges want to change the personalities I didn’t catch or write down this exactly, but this is a very close paraphrase: “The judges feel the aw shucks Southern thing is getting tired. We know it’s who you are, but you should break out of it.”

When did NIC turn into “Queer Eye”? When did someone say this a show where we change who you are and turn you into someone else? I’m getting the feeling these same three judges would be telling Batali to cook something “other than just the same boring Italian crap” and to stop wearing clogs — break out of it, Mario! They would no doubt instruct Paula Deen to work on getting rid of her accent, darken her hair to appeal to a younger audience or she’ll fail, and to just “break out of it”.

Yes, each week the chefs continue to be impressive, and each week I think the judges are going more control freak insane. If Besh gets axed because his food is outstanding but that he’s giving them too much “southern boy”, I swear I am going to give Anthony Bourdain a gun and force the judges to accompany him on his next world tour. Yes, the judges really should “break out of” their boring haute cuisine cycle and explore. Have some pregnant weevils, maybe some monkey brains, mmm-mmm snake venom and OJ — keep them out there a long while, Anthony; show them a good time mosquito-net style.

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