Episodes of the Week – Legends

There is the Legend of Zelda, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, even the MST3K classic Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues. Of course, there were also two “Legend of. . .” specials that Fuji TV produced for Food Network. We present those two episodes to you this week as we are only one day from completing our collection of Food Network episodes.

• The Legend of Michiba – Features portions of early Michiba battles: Foie Gras (102), Cheese (212), Rice (213), 1995 World Cup Final 
• The Legend of Chen/Sakai – Features portions of two Sakai battles: Cod (312), Apple/Chocolate (305). Features portions of two Chen battles: Prawns (238), Carrot (220)

ICC Exclusives – Episodes of the Month, Vol. 4

This is the fourth edition of our Iron Chef Collection Exclusives Episodes of the Month. Of course, this is where we present to you Iron Chef episodes that did not air on Food Network. Today, we present our Episodes of the Month for October. Thank you to everyone who voted in the poll. The voting was very close this month with the top three episodes all receiving 15 votes.

• Milk (529) – Sakai vs. Toyoshima – The challenger was sent by Club Mistral. The presentation of this theme ingredient seems to be pretty standard until they walk the cows into Kitchen Stadium. That’s right. They actually bring two cows in, and the chefs are given a chance to milk them. (Unfortunately, this episode is missing a large portion of the tasting. All cooking segments and the announcement of the winner is intact. I apologize for not having a better copy to present to you.)
• Spare Rib (539) – Chen vs. Nagasaka – I didn’t really understand any of his intro. I think perhaps he was a French chef but now is a Chinese chef. (Any help would be appreciated.)
• Chestnut (541) – Kobe vs. Seki – It is the Prince of Pasta vs. the Prince of Chinese cuisine.

The following episodes may be found by searching our video database: Milk (529OA), Spare Rib (539OA), Chestnut (541OA)

Episodes of the Week – Veggie Tales

Sung to the tune of the Veggie Tales Theme Song:

If you like to cook with tomatoes.   If baked squash can make you smile.

If you like to mash your potatoes.   With the Tetsujin’s great style. Have we got a show for you.

Iron Che-e-ef. Iron Che-e-ef. Iron Che-e-ef. Iron Che-e-ef.

Iron Che-e-ef. Iron Che-e-ef. Iron Che-e-ef. Iron Chef.

Kobe’s dash. Chefs will clash. Kaga’s flash. Iron Chef.

Circle mold. Chen is bold. Kishi’s old. Iron Chef.

Fish filets. Woks ablaze. BDJs. Iron Chef.

There’s never ever ever ever ever been a show like Iron Chef.

There’s never ever ever ever ever been a show like Iron Chef.

It’s time for Iron Chef.

If it wasn’t obvious yet, our theme for this week’s Episodes of the Week is vegetables. Enjoy.

• Chinese Cabbage (304) – Chen vs. Oidate – The challenger is an expert in Chinese medicinal cuisine.
• Soy Bean (306) – Chen vs. Urabe – The challenger is a female chef fully endorsed by Kandagawa.
• Onion (322) – Sakai vs. Omiya – The challenger owns one of the top three diners in Japan.
• Tomato (714) – Kobe vs. Canzoniere – The challenger is a Roman cuisine specialist.
• Bean Sprout (717) – Chen vs. Okubo – The challenger is the third one sent in by the Kihachi Group.

Episodes of the Week – Ponyo on the Plate by the Table (or Cooking Nemo)

I couldn’t decide which fish movie to use for this post. I decided to go with the one I had seen most recently. The most recent film released in Japan by the great Hayao Miyazaki is called Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (Gake no ue no Ponyo/Ponyo on the Cliff). Chairman Kaga would be pleased that this title of this movie seemed to fit so well into the theme of this week’s Episodes of the Week. All of our episode this week feature fish. Don’t worry. There were no signs of Ponyo or Nemo being cooked during these battles.

• Salmon (335) – Sakai vs. Bruant – The challenger was part of the first tag team battle in Kitchen Stadium. Now he is back on his own to challenge Sakai again.
• Cod (702) – Sakai vs. Kamimura – The challenger is a rice connoisseur from Niigata, an area known for its rice and sake.
• Sturgeon (708) – Chen vs. Asou – The challenger is endorsed by French legend Pierre Troisgros. The theme ingredient is especially lively. It’s a rather bloody preparation. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
• Angler (711) – Morimoto vs. Masahara – The challenger is the fourth challenger sent to Kitchen Stadium from the Ohta Faction.
• Sea Bass (733) – Morimoto vs. Shigematsu – This challenger is the final challenger in Kitchen Stadium.

Episodes of the Week – The World is Your Oyster

This idiomatic phrase was first used by none other than William Shakespeare in The Merry Wives of Windsor. And if the world is not your oyster, then at least Kitchen Stadium is this week. This week’s Episodes of the Week feature two battles with oysters as the theme ingredient and two battles featuring a fellow bivalve, the clam.

• Clam (316) – Sakai vs. Santo – The challenger heads a restaurant famous among Japan’s artists and writers.
• Clam (334) – Chen vs Takemasa – The challenger is a female chef that trained under Kandagawa.
• Oyster (348) – Sakai vs. Groult – The challenger is the youngest ever winner of the MOF, the most prestigious award for chefs in France.
• Asura Oyster (707) – Sakai vs. Semba – The Circle Mold vs. The Circle of Life (Semba. Simba. Get it? 🙂 ) Anyway, the challenger is a trendsetter in Kyoto cuisine.

ICC Exclusives – Episodes of the Month, Vol. 3

This is the third edition of our Iron Chef Collection Exclusives Episodes of the Month. Of course, this is where we present to you Iron Chef episodes that did not air on Food Network. Today, we present our Episodes of the Month for September. Thank you to everyone who voted in the poll.

• There are many Iron Chef specials that did not air on Food Network. We have been able to bring some of them to you over the last few months (Japan Cup, Millennium Special, Morimoto Retrospective), and this month, we bring you another one. In the final year of the regular run of Iron Chef, Morimoto and Michiba made a visit to Indonesia. The episode is unique for Iron Chef in that there is no actual competition. There is a great write up about these episodes done by the Iron Chef Reporter way back when the show was airing on local California television. (ICR Report Pt 1, ICR Report Pt 2)
• The second choice from the poll this month is the Pitan battle. Pitan is also known as “Thousand-year-old egg” is an egg that has been preserved for several weeks to several months. Chen vs. Takagi.
• The final addition this month is another unique one in that there was not a theme ingredient. The theme of the episode was Hanami (花見). Hanami is the Japanese tradition of enjoying the beauty of flowers, usually Sakura (桜) or cherry blossoms. The episode aired during the traditional Hanami time of the year. The judging takes place outdoors under the cover of Sakura. Nakamura vs. You