ICC Exclusive – Taisho Prawn – Chen vs. Shimada

It’s time for another pre-Food Network episode for your viewing pleasure.

The challenger, Shinsuke Shimada, is a famous comedian in Japan. He is also known to be one of the best celebrity chefs in Japan. At the age of 21, he began his show business career as part of a manzai duo. Despite appearing on as many as 11 television shows a week, he still makes time to cook at least once per day.

Shimada is currently the host of the popular Japanese television show Quiz Hexagon II. (Watch full episodes of Quiz Hexagon II on Veoh.) Unfortunately, there are two incidents in the last five years which indicate that Shimada may have problems controlling his temper. First, he attacked a female staffer at his management agency. And as recently as October 2008, he was seen confronting some young comedians during a live television show. Although he has had these problems in the past, he is still a highly sought after host in Japan.

What makes this episode a rare and special treat for current Iron Chef fans is that it comes from the time before Iron Chef was aired on Food Network. It was recorded from one of the local stations broadcasting the show. (In fact, it still has the local commercials intact.) It is in Japanese WITH English subtitles. I know you will enjoy being able to experience this rare episode not shown in North America in over 10 years.

There are two options for viewing this episode. The pop-up player will use the usual divx encoded file. This smaller, lower quality file can also be downloaded directly using the “Download File” option. Also in the download menu this time is an option to download a higher quality VOB file (approx. 1.3GB). (You can play the vob file in VLC Player)

New in the video database this week: 436s – Taisho Prawn Battle – Chen vs. Shimada (subbed)

ICC Exclusive – Apple Battle – Sakai vs. Nish

This is the first of several pre-Food Network episodes that I will be sharing with you over the next few weeks.

The challenger, Wayne Nish, is a Japanese American chef from New York City. The New York Times gave his restaurant 3 stars. He likes to use inspirations from many different cultures in his cuisine, creating beautiful and unique dishes. The chairman chooses a theme inspired by the challenger’s home town, the Big Apple. Sakai admits to being at a disadvantage because of his previous apple battle (305). Does the American challenger have what it takes to get a victory in his Grandfather’s homeland?

According to an article in the New York Times in February 2009, Wayne Nish is now the executive chef at restaurant Prive in Singapore. (Click Here and Here for more information about chef Nish.) I can’t find any mention of chef Nish on Prive’s current website, but he is mentioned on this menu (pdf) from 6/29/2009.

What makes this episode a rare and special treat for current Iron Chef fans is that it comes from the time before Iron Chef was aired on Food Network. It was recorded from one of the local stations broadcasting the show. It is in Japanese WITH English subtitles. I know you will enjoy being able to experience this rare episode not shown in North America in over 10 years.

There are two options for viewing this episode. The pop-up player will use the usual divx encoded file. This smaller, lower quality file can also be downloaded directly using the “Download File” option. Also in the download menu this time is an option to download a higher quality VOB file (approx. 1GB). (You can play the vob file in VLC Player)

New in the video database this week: 446s – Apple Battle – Sakai vs. Nish (subbed)

ICC Exclusive – Eggplant Battle – Chen vs. Kawaguchi

It’s time for the Obon Festival in Japan. (It usually is held in mid-August. This episode originally aired on August 15, 1997). The challenger is a buddhist monk who prepares what the chairman calls “Nouveau Vegetarian Cuisine.” She is the younger sister of the challenger from episode 237. The chairman announces the theme by talking about its “. . .purple color. Yes, that vegetable. . .” The chairman says to remember that Obon vegetarian dishes should have “light, simple flavor.” (淡味 or “tanmi.” I can’t find it defined but the kanji literally mean “light” and “flavor”. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.)

This episode does show the winner announcement, but we don’t get the see the scores.

New in the database this week: 531OA

ICC Exclusive – Cabbage Battle – Kobe vs. Tabacci

It’s time for another ICC Exclusive episode. This week, I present the second battle of Iron Chef Italian Kobe’s Kitchen Stadium career. Of course, he lost his debut in the Short Pasta Battle (522OA).

Iron Chef Kobe lost his first battle in Kitchen Stadium. Chairman Kaga was not happy. To challenge Kobe this time, the Chairman brings in a true Italian chef. He has cooked for many famous people, including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bill Gates, and that 3rd tenor guy. He began cooking at the age of 13. At the time of this battle, he had only been in Japan for two months. (BTW, if anyone speaks Italian and can translate what the challenger says, please post it in a comment. Thanks.)

• You can tell it’s only Kobe’s second battle. He is quicker to the podium this time than in his debut, but he still isn’t at a full sprint like we are used to seeing.
• One of the guests/judges is named Sunplaza Nakano. I tried to find more information about him, but his website is down. And most of the search results were for the Sun Plaza Hotel in Nakano.
• The female guest Takahashi Hitomi likes cabbage and is happy that it is the theme. Unfortunately, Sunplaza Nakano said he hates it.
• Kobe told Ohta that even in his second battle, he is still nervous.
• I think the challenger said that he thinks Kobe’s costume makes him look like a clown. And at one point he calls the bald-headed Sunplaza Nakano “Tamago-san,” or Egg-man.
• The challenger’s dishes: Italian-style Cabbage Dango (dumpling) Soup, Handmade Cabbage Pasta, Cabbage Gnocchi, Cabbage Mousse with Vanilla Sauce.
• The Iron Chef’s dishes: Three Flavor Cabbage, Cabbage Soup Espresso Style, Cabbage Ravioli Gratin, Iron Chef-style Bonito Carpaccio, Cabbage Sherbet.

Will the new Iron Chef finally overcome the pressure to get his first victory? Watch and find out.

New in the database this week: Cabbage Battle – Kobe vs. Tabacci (528OA)

I’m going to try to get two more episodes posted before the end of the weekend.

ICC Exclusives – Mantis Shrimp Battle – Chen vs. Matsuno

Today, I present another ICC Exclusive Japanese language episode: the Mantis Shrimp battle between Chen Kenichi and sushi artisan Yoshikazu Matsuno. (Click on his name to go to the home page of his restaurant.) The challenger is a sushi chef from Yokohama who is a favorite of famous athletes and entertainers. He began his training at the age of 16. Chairman Kaga calls him a “sushi craftsman.”

Here are some things for which to look when watching this episode. (If I am way off on anything I think is happening, please let me know so I can correct it.)

• I don’t think Chen looked too excited about the theme when it was announced. He even told Ohta that it was “difficult,” and wondered what he was going to do with live shako.)
• I think the challenger said it was his first time using it.
• This is a live ingredient. Check out the looks on the guests faces when Chen drops a batch of live mantis shrimp into the oil.
• The challenger seems to handle the wok pretty well when making his squid-ink fried rice (Ikasumi Chahan).
• The Iron Chef sent one of his assistants over to the challenger’s side to steal some sushi rice. 😀
• Everybody laughs at Chen’s attempt at sushi.
• The female guest isn’t too sure about the Shako dessert the challenger is preparing.
• The challenger couldn’t get his caviar open with only 10 seconds remaining, so they had to cut into the lid to get to it.
• Chen said his first time making sushi was fun.
• Chen seemed surprised at the verdict. (Good surprise or bad surprise? You’ll have to watch it.)

Of course, this episode is presented as it aired on Fuji TV 12 years ago. All breaks and commercials are intact. Remember that Nissan was the sole sponsor when this episode aired, so all of the commercials are for Nissan. (Keep an eye out for a young Ichiro Suzuki in one of the commercials.) The episode is in Japanese with no subtitles. Enjoy.

New in the Database this week: Mantis Shrimp (Shako) – 527OA – Chen vs. Matsuno

ICC Exclusives – Sea Urchin – Sakai vs. Ishikawa

The challenger is a chef specializing in Chinese cuisine. He earns praise from both Iron Chef Chen and Dr. Yukio Hattori. The Chairman calls him the future of Chinese cooking in Japan. This episode did not air on Food Network.

New in the database this week: 526OA – Sea Urchin