Iron Chef America - Battle Cauliflower

[goodhealthgourmet]

anyone catch it tonight? it was NY chef John Fraser vs Michael Symon. Fraser showed up SOLO - no sous chefs, and a minute or two into the battle when Symon heard what was going on, he booted his own guys out of the kitchen and completed the entire battle himself. it was actually pretty cool. Jeffrey was back at the judges' table for the first time in ages...not exactly all sunshine and rainbows, but not nearly as nasty as he had been in his last few appearances.

now if they would just do something about the Chairman's hideous wardrobe...

[karenfinan]

so who won????

[goodhealthgourmet]

Symon, 49-44, with a 4-point advantage for taste.

[karenfinan]

thanks!

[bulavinaka]

So what were the dishes that you folks were impressed with?

[goodhealthgourmet]

- Fraser's tempura with crushed darjeeling tea, chai and curry
- Fraser's dessert - cauliflower pudding with bruleed figs
- Symon's champagne and cauliflower zabaglione served over a champagne-poached oyster
- Symon's cauliflower pasta carbonara
- Symon's dessert - cauliflower & almond fritters with vanilla mascarpone

[bulavinaka]

Wow - I'm not even worthy... Thanks!

[JethroSpanks]

Is there anywhere we can find a recipe for the cauliflower & almond fritters with the vanilla mascarpone? Wasn't there a peach reduction or coulis with it, as well?

[goodhealthgourmet]

yes, there was a peach coulis underneath the fritter...and unfortunately they never publish the recipes from ICA :(

[JethroSpanks]

Where did the almonds come in? Did he make the cauliflower into a mash and then mixed it with flour and almond to make the fritters?

[goodhealthgourmet]

no, he made a fritter batter, then folded in toasted sliced almonds and chunks of roasted cauliflower, i thought it was pretty interesting that he left the cauliflower intact instead of mashing it beyond recognition into the batter...and the judges loved that aspect of it.

[JethroSpanks]

THANK YOU!

[goodhealthgourmet]

you're quite welcome :) if you're planning to try making them, he also dusted them with powdered sugar before serving.

[JethroSpanks]

I may make these AND chicken bastilla together. Turn the savory on their head!

[goodhealthgourmet]

looking forward to a report!

[gyc]

Wasn't there an original Iron Chef episode just like this? IIRC it was also a challenger that went at it alone and the Iron Chef (Sakai I believe) also booted his sous chefs.

[Maximilien]

Yep.

[ipsedixit]

I've always felt sous chefs should not be allowed in Kitchen Stadium.

Very sportsman-like of Chef Symon.

The Chairman is giving Craig Sager a run for his money ...

[goodhealthgourmet]

i recently read Ruhlman's "Soul of A Chef" and it gave me a new level of respect for Symon, so it was great to see him step up like that tonight. but the Chairman, ugh, he looked like he was channeling his inner pimp-daddy in that getup! (i feel like Sager at least has a sense of humor about those ridiculous suits he wears.)

[thew]

lol - sportsman-like. do you honestly believe this wasn't pre-scripted to happen?