Here’s the scenario; you’ve been cooking for a while and you’ve come up with some pretty original and tasty dishes, and you’re watching Iron Chef and it hits you: “I can compete with these guys!” The all-knowing Chairman then sends you an invitation to come compete, and he even gives you the option of naming which theme ingredient you’ll be using. So:
What’s your choice for the theme ingredient (remember, you have to come up with 5 dishes in 60 minutes!)
artichoke vinaigrette with a twist. Normal cooked artichoke chilled and the choke inside removed. You sort of gently peel back the leaves to open it up and serve it with vinaigrette inside and you gently pluck the outside leaves and dip in the well of vinaigrette in the middle. Instead of a regular vinaigrette, a creamy sesame dressing
* 2 tbsp ground white sesame seeds
* 1 tsp rice vinegar
* 1 tsp vegetable oil
* 1 tsp sugar
* 1 tsp soy sauce
* 1 tsp grated onion
* 1 to 2 tsps mayonnaise
mix all ingredients, the mayo is to taste and consistency.
Spring artichoke soup - classic broth katsuobushi [bonito flakes] boiled in water with a sheet of konbu kelp. Strain through cloth. Add 3 tbsp or so of sweet white miso paste, and instead of tofu, cubes of true artichoke heart [it is actually the base, or the pith of the stems. In this case I would use the pith of the stems cut into cubes] and thin discs of spring onion. Garnish served on the side of deep fried artichoke hearts.
Artichokes benedict - the cooked base of an artichoke, a slice of that amazing dried ham from spain I saw on one of Tony Bourdain’s trips to spain topped with a sort of runny poached egg, sauced with a sauce of mild white miso, yuzu kosho [citrus chili]. soy sauce and mirin.
Shrimp saute - more or less shrimp scampi - butter, shrimps, garlic sauted along with drained split artichoke hearts served on drained udon [not soupy]
Dessert is problematic. There was once an artichoke wine, which totally screwed with the palates of the judges because it is sweet. There is also an artichoke based cordial. I would think a small thimble sized glass of cynar on the side of a good cup of coffee as a digestif would work. I even have a small bottle =) Not sure if a digestif qualifies for dessert?
When I guilded more, there was a rule that nobody was to mention food unless they wanted the healer <me> to up and go make some of whatever they were talking about.
I’m just glad I can’t browse at work!
“Sorry boss, gotta go home and chop some 'chokes”.
Sure, knock yourself out, I can’t use any of them for the Artichoke festival in Castroville, I used to be a professional chef and tend to be disqualified from competitions.
I can highly recommend the huge jar of artichoke hearts from BJs for making the frittered choke hearts.
You could get the jar of choke hearts, the jars of palm hearts, a jar of pimento peppers, and make millionaires giardiniera =)
Those absolutely beautiful solid, compact, round huge globes /drool
We either rarely get them in CT or they are amazingly expensive even in season. I swear sometimes it seems it would be cheaper to drive to California and bring back a case of them than to buy them in a grocery =(
The cute baby chokes are good for splitting and grilling, or other stuff, but my absolute favorite thing is a huge globe served cold and vinaigrette, or hot with butter. I can make an entire meal out of a perfect globe stuffed with brioche crumbs, finely chopped shrimp, and butter/lemon baked til done.
I’d pick Morimoto, just because he’s my fav of all the IC’s.
Here’s how it would go down.
The worst episode in the history of Iron Chef America. The Iron chef would have all this foofy food with dozens of exotic ingredients, that could be photographed and placed in an art museum. I’d have sandwiches.
“Battle Ground Beef is over, now the tasting begins! Chef Morimoto, tell us what you’ve prepared for today.”
“Well we have a Kobe beef burger with applewood and sage smoked bacon, brandy wine infused sauteed onions, and sun dried tomato basil vodka ketchup. The bun is a hand crafted artisan 5 cheese cibiatta roll sprinked with truffles.”
“Excellent! And Apocalypso, what culinary treasures have you in store for us?”
“Er, meat loaf. Made with um, beef soup mix, white bread, an egg and ground meat. Tomato ketchup on the side”.
<awkward pause, shot of my sad little meat loaf next to Morimoto’s $80 burger>
“You know what, lets just go straight to judgement. Chef Morimoto is the winner. Apocalypso, you are forever banned from preparing food of any kind ever again”.
LOL. I’ve often though that if I were ever to be kidnapped and taken at gunpoint to be on Iron Chef* the secret ingredient better be Cream of Mushroom soup. Campbell’s.
I’m the Iron Chef of Mom Food.
*oh, who am I kidding? I’d go on it in a heartbeat and be utterly humiliated quite willingly for the chance to meet AB in the green room.
