The Next Iron Chef Episode 4-Adaptability
Posted by Anthony Sica on October 26th, 2009
In honor of everyone’s favorite first baseman and the remaining Iron Chef Contestants, here is a rundown of last night’s Next Iron Chef in six bites.
- This week, the Chairman put the contestant’s adaptability to the test. They were to create a Mexican Duo (entrée and dessert) and a cocktail using the secret ingredient-Tamarind.
- The chefs had 90 minute to shop and cook; and it was up to them how to use their allotted time. Jose Garces took the longest time shopping while Dominique Crenn finished first.
- Garces came through with a Tamarind Mole Poblano and Tamarind Coconut Flan to pair with a Tamarind Martini. The biggest gripe about Garces’ plate came from Jeffrey Steingarten, whose flan was curdled.
- The winner this week was Jehangir Mehta. He stuck with the faulty ice cream machinery, but this time it paid off in the form of his Tamarind Ice Cream and Queso Fresco. His entrée was a Tamarind Apple Pork , while his cocktail was a Chocolate Tamarind Shot with Orange Liqueur.
- Lost in Translation: Dominique Crenn is headed home after serving raw churros and an uncharacteristically thick Tortilla Soup.
- Next Week: Things get intense with a double elimination.
Related Tags: Food-and-Television, Next Iron Chef
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- Next Iron Chef Episode 7- Integrity
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October 26th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
My favorite part in the show is where Garces tried to sell the concept that screwing up flan is a time-honored tradition at the Garces house.
October 27th, 2009 at 8:39 am
I love how they take a van ride from the kitchen to the grocery store, yet run from the grocery stairs directly into the kitchen. Even if we accept that the show was edited that way, why must they continue to run after Alton timed them?
October 28th, 2009 at 10:42 am
How have you summarized the whole exciting episode in just 6 points? I really like the drama that unfolds between these “bites” that you have written about. For the last 3 episodes they had 2 challenges for each show and there was a different winner for each of them. The 4th show came as a surprise since it had only one challenge but the chefs had to shop for their own ingredients. What a scene they created at the super market! I think the challenge required the chefs to be organized, focused and creative in order to win. Chef Mehta had a long list of ingredients and he was running from the meat counter to the dairy counter to the vegetables with such agility. He knew exactly what he wanted and where to get it. He did mention that if he did not get the specific meat that he wanted, then he had to change the plan. He had a contingency planned; something, we have seen comes in handy in this competition. Chef Garces was not so comfortable shopping especially under such pressure. He took his own sweet time and finished last for the shopping round.
Once inside the kitchen, the chefs were back in familiar surroundings. The challenge started taking its toll on the participants as time ticked on. Sparks flew between Chef Crenn and Chef Appleman when they had a small cooking counter dispute. Both of them wanted the same stove. The drama did not end there, after a few minutes everyone in the kitchen could smell something burning and they realized that Chef Appleman’s pressure cooker was the source. He nearly gave up when he saw the charred ingredients in the pressure cooker. He just salvaged whatever part he could and proceeded to make his soup. The best part was when Alton Brown announced that they had to make a cocktail using tamarind. Most of the chefs were sure they will not be able to make it but somehow pulled through. The winner was Chef Mehta and he did it in style! He managed to use the tamarind with the greatest versatility.