Allez Cuisine!
I've been a fan of Iron Chef since 1996. I used to watch the broadcasts in straight Japanese, with no subtitles. I understand enough basic Japanese to get the gist, if not the full impact of the show. Still, I was even more giddy when they added subtitles.
I don't care if you are a superstar in the kitchen, or can't boil water. I have yet to meet a person who doesn't get sucked in watching the Iron Chef take on the Challenger. And after you watch a few episodes, you start believing that you can, and totally should, make a sorbet from shad roe and wintermelon, with a splash of Coke.
For a couple of years, we lived in an area with a HUGE population of Japanese speakers, and yet, inexplicably, Iron Chef was not on. So sad. In hindsight, since I was pregnant, I probably would have been put off Iron Chef forever, if the theme ingredient had been eggs. I was forced to turn my attention to Steve Irwin, who was just beginning his broadcast run. Oooh! See the crazy man with the crocodiles!
I'm seeing a pattern in my TV viewing - I like crazy, but benign.
Hey, that's totally a description of ME.
Anyway, when we moved back to my hometown, we once again got Iron Chef. Now, since Food Network is carrying it, fully dubbed, it is easy to get my fix. My grasp of Japanese only scratched the surface of the hilarity. All the sports metaphors! Hah!
It appears that the actor who plays "The Chairman" has it written in his contract that his voice will not be dubbed, so he's still subtitled. The vanity! The outfits! The way he bites that bell pepper! Maybe he really IS an eccentric millionaire who is devoting his life and fortune to finding never-before tasted masterpieces!
Or not. Doesn't really matter. Because it's thrilling watching two chefs try to make a zillion different dishes in one hour, all with a common ingredient.
The reason I'm bringing this up? I've got to pull dinner out of my hat, and I've got nothing. Well, except things like canned tomatoes (which my kids, like our forefathers, think are devil's fruit.)
I do have a few sweet potatoes. Aha! The theme for this battle? Sweet Potato. Sound the gong!
I think I will cut them into pieces and roast them. Or, I could grate them and make sweet potato patties and fry them and call them croquettes. Or! I could chop them and steam them with rice and then top the whole thing with caramelized nuts! But I don't have any nuts.
I DON'T HAVE ANY NUTS!
Whatever, like the kids are going to eat it anyway. I think I'll mash them and serve them with butter and cinnamon. With a birthday candle in the top, on a plate garnished with fall leaves to evoke autumn.
O sweet potato
You are not a common yam
With that candle lit
I'm sure the kids will score me high for presentation, and low for taste.
Comments
Excuse me!
Yes?
I have just been informed that Chef Miamoto is using GINGER to accentuate the delicate flavor of the lobster gonads in this dessert!
You don't say!
Yes, isn't that inventive? He said that it's an old trick taught to him by the goldfish he had as a child.
God, I love Iron Chef.
Posted by: Mir | November 12, 2004 6:48 PM
For the sweet potatoes: if you have any on hand, add a drizzle of maple syrup (sorry, the faux product known as "pancake syrup" simply won't do). Mmmmmmm.
Back in the days when we had television in our home, my favorite cooking show was "How To Boil Water". I have forgotten the name of the host, but I do wonder what he's up to today. He was so fun, and yes, I learned to make many simple yet fabulous dishes from him. He taught me how to slice fresh basil!
Posted by: Mellie Helen | November 12, 2004 7:52 PM
Point of clarification re: How To Boil Water: no, not that one, but this earlier incarnation of the same name. The host was Sean Donnellan. There's a big difference between the two hows. [END clarification.]
Posted by: Mellie Helen | November 12, 2004 9:20 PM
Iron Chef ROCKS! Highfive.
Posted by: Aurorealis | November 12, 2004 10:41 PM
I think you need to participate in next year's "Aluminum Cook America.
Posted by: Lee | November 13, 2004 6:47 AM
Ok, there's a theme song I must share with you. I found this on the Iron Chef FAQ. At the beginning of each episode, starting when Kaga walks into the room during the opening credits, and the music starts (the music is all from Backdraft the movie, which confused the hell out of me when I saw the film):
Kaga...built a....kitchen...staDIum!
He likes....yellow..peppers - CRUNCH!
I am so lame I named my cats Fukui-san and Ohta after the announcers. Ohta is so evil he now answers to "Spawn," but if you yell out "Fukui-san!" in my house a giant brown cat comes running.
Posted by: Sarah | November 13, 2004 7:37 AM
This is your funniest blog entry to date! I'm slayed by your haiku! There is never a dull dinner at your home, I'm certain!!
Posted by: bonnie | November 13, 2004 12:21 PM
Iron Chef represents some of the funniest television I have ever seen. Thanks for bringing back fond memories of late Saturday nights spent howling on the floor with good friends while eel, lobster, and shark battles raged onscreen.
Posted by: Carmi | November 15, 2004 6:53 AM
There is also this weird, subtitled show like Fear Factor with out the fear on Spike TV... I think it might be Japanese as well... check it out! It is called: MXC... too funny!
Posted by: Chloe | November 17, 2004 5:41 AM