# Iron Chef America - De Laurentiis vs Ray **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 13, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251 "2006-11-13T16:09:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/1 "2006-11-13T16:09:16Z")
This past Saturday, in a show that had to be 50% larger than usual to fit Giada’s head in the same space with Flay’s ego and Batali’s girth, Giada “The Head” De Laurentiis, aided by Iron Chef Bobby Flay, took on Rachel “I’m a cook, not a chef” Ray, aided by Iron Chef Mario Batali. They went head-to-head with the secret ingredient, cranberries. Each side decided to do a take on Osso Buco (braised veal shankes), with Giada/Bobby using venison and Rachel/Mario choosing turkey legs. While we all knew the announcers couldn’t make it through the show without commenting on the fact that 1 hour was two _30 Minute Meals_, possibly giving Ms. Ray the advantage, by the 1,000[sup]th[/sup] time it was quite annoying. After the obligatory bikini cat fight in jello, the chefs and cooks presented their meals to the judges, world-reknowned for absolutely nothing at all.Ray/Batali swept all the categories and easily won over De Laurentiis/Flay, with Batali kicking ass on the desert. As the show went to close, the winner was heard saying, _“Ain’t gonna be no rematch”_ while the loser replied, _“Don’t want one.”_. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/2 "2006-11-13T16:26:53Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] After the obligatory bikini cat fight in jello [/QUOTE] So, who won this? Batali’s way bigger, but Flay has that NYC scrappiness about him. 😃 :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/3 "2006-11-13T16:30:02Z")
I love the Giada the Giant Head jokes. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/4 "2006-11-13T16:30:33Z")
Ugh. One team with Rachel Ray, one team with Bobby Flay. I don’t even know which one to root against. I hate them both so much! ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/5 "2006-11-13T16:43:08Z")
[QUOTE=fluiddruid] Ugh. One team with Rachel Ray, one team with Bobby Flay. I don’t even know which one to root against. I hate them both so much! [/QUOTE] They were both on their best behaviour through this match. Ray was way too busy to do any obnoxiously perky bits, but she can’t control the latent perkiness. Flay probably wanted to get into Giada’s pants, so he wasn’t being a surly asshole. Batali, as usual, was just having a grand ol’ time. This is fun for him, and it shows. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/6 "2006-11-13T18:25:53Z")
I was hoping it would be Batali and DiLaurentis against Flay and Ray, the Italians against the Annoyings, so I could root for the Italian team. But I guess they decided to put the literal big-head together with the figurative big-head. Despite her big head, overly toothy grin, accent that only appears when saying Italian words and the porn music that plays when she prepares food, I do prefer Giada over Rachel Ray, at least she doesn’t say “EVOO, Extra Virgin Olive Oil”\* all the time! Well, at least Mario beat Bobby so it’s all good, gotta love the red-headed Italian guy. \*It isn’t shorter if you have to explain what the initials mean every time! ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/7 "2006-11-13T18:36:56Z")
I would pay money to watch Rachel Ray wrestle Giada’s head in a tub of EVOO. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/8 "2006-11-13T19:47:51Z")
What is really needed is for Alton Brown to step down from the announcers box so we can have a Brown/Ray smackdown and finally lay to rest any doubts who the true King of the Food Shows is… ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/9 "2006-11-13T20:13:39Z")
**Me:** Maybe they’ll tie, and settle it with some naked mud wrestling. **My wife:** Do you really want to see Bobby Flay and Mario Batali naked mud wrestling? **Me:** Touche. > [@](#): > > What is really needed is for Alton Brown to step down from the announcers box so we can have a Brown/Ray smackdown and finally lay to rest any doubts who the true King of the Food Shows is… Alton said at a lecture in Nashville a few months ago that he’s more likely to show up as the secret ingredient on ICA than as a competitor, mostly because he’s sure he’d get his ass handed to him. Then again, I’m pretty sure he could spank Rachael’s big fine ass. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/10 "2006-11-13T20:24:35Z")
[QUOTE=DoctorJ] Then again, I’m pretty sure he could spank Rachael’s big fine ass. [/QUOTE] You say that like it is a bad thing. 🆒 Part of the charm of _Good Eats_ is the whimsical but scientific approach. Alton without huge pepper seeds, dragon spray bottles, and W on equipment duties just wouldn’t be worth it. Kitchen stadium isn’t about science, it’s about art. One thing that I noted is that Giada seemed to have a bigger hand in creating her side’s dishes than Rachel did. The zeppoles and the ravioli seemed to be Giada’s inventions. I didn’t get the same feel from Rachel, that she brought any Iron Chef-calibre dishes to the table herself. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/11 "2006-11-13T20:32:53Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] One thing that I noted is that Giada seemed to have a bigger hand in creating her side’s dishes than Rachel did. The zeppoles and the ravioli seemed to be Giada’s inventions. I didn’t get the same feel from Rachel, that she brought any Iron Chef-calibre dishes to the table herself. [/QUOTE] Ray doesn’t really make any _Iron Chef_-calibre dishes on her show, so I guess that stands to reason. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/12 "2006-11-13T20:35:21Z")
_Goods Eats_ is also about simple food, and food preparation techniques, not about new fancy creative dishes. Somehow, I don’t think Alton would impress much in Kitchen Stadium by whippinig up a homemade mayonnaise and frying some chicken. RR has some inventive dishes, but her strength is organization and little tips that cut time - like making “stoup” in two pots so it tastes like it’s been simmered for a long time when it hasn’t. That skill could be useful, but unfortunately I missed the show, so I’m only speculating. But, if you need someone to get in that vat of EVOO with Alton, I’m your gal! ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/13 "2006-11-13T20:52:11Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] But, if you need someone to get in that vat of EVOO with Alton, I’m your gal! [/QUOTE] Spike the EVOO with Rogaine, and I’m sure he’d jump right in with you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/14 "2006-11-13T21:09:28Z")
OneCentStamp- too funny! The wrestling might reduce his love handles, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Agnostic\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Agnostic\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agnostic_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/15 "2006-11-14T01:26:41Z")
Batali is what makes the show for me these days. I like Bobby Flay’s dishes most of the time, so I can ignore his ego. Cat Cora looks like she has fun more often than not, but Batali knows exactly what is at stake - nothing, it’s entertainment, and that is what he tries to provide. I loved his ‘bribe’. That tells you his mindset right there. And the look on Giada’s face when she lost to the ‘cook’ was priceless. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/16 "2006-11-14T01:34:48Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] _Goods Eats_ is also about simple food, and food preparation techniques, not about new fancy creative dishes. [/QUOTE] Let me preface this by saying that I might be the biggest AB fan on earth. That being said, Alton’s show is often about taking food preparation that would ordinarily be simple and making it more complicated than it needs to be. Yes, much of it is perfectly logical and worthwhile, but I always chuckle when he says “All you’ll need is…” and proceeds to name 15 different pieces of hardware. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/17 "2006-11-14T01:42:22Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] Batali, as usual, was just having a grand ol’ time. This is fun for him, and it shows. [/QUOTE] I think LIFE is fun for Mario Batali. I really enjoy that about him, and that’s why I keep watching him. In regards to Alton being a challenger, I don’t think it’ll ever happen. He’s just not that kinda chef. Although he is dead sexy in person (and he smelled good, too), he doesn’t strike me as a think-on-his-feet chef. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/18 "2006-11-14T14:24:42Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] I think LIFE is fun for Mario Batali. I really enjoy that about him, and that’s why I keep watching him. In regards to Alton being a challenger, I don’t think it’ll ever happen. He’s just not that kinda chef. Although he is dead sexy in person (and he smelled good, too), he doesn’t strike me as a think-on-his-feet chef. [/QUOTE] :eek: You have sniffed AB. I must now form a cult around you. [genuflecting]All hail, **GingerOfTheNorth**! [/genuflecting] ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/19 "2006-11-14T14:40:54Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Ray doesn’t really make any _Iron Chef_-calibre dishes on her show, so I guess that stands to reason. [/QUOTE] I actually wish that neither of them had help from any actual chef and that they had to go it alone (well with sous chef, like the real Iron Chefs). Honestly, my palate isn’t that complicated. Most of the dishes served during the full on ICA matches sound plenty interesting, but aren’t things I think I’d enjoy. OTOH, I’ve made plenty of things from Rachel and Testa Gigante’s shows and they’re pretty decent. I know it’s all about chefs flexing their culinary skills, but still given the choice over some chicken alfredo or creamed reindeer gallbladders served with dandilion reduction and tree bark, I already know who I’d be voting for. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251/20 "2006-11-14T14:46:02Z")
I don’t blame you. Any body who would serve that ought to be flogged. Creamed reindeer gallbladders should always be served with pond scum, not tree bark! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-chef-america-de-laurentiis-vs-ray/380251.md?page=2)