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This BKS video features the girls of Morning Musume, the popular Japanese idol group, and their attempt to cook like the Iron Chefs. You might remember a couple of these girls from previous BKS videos. Nozomi Tsuji and Kago Ai were featured in Ryori no Tetsu-Kappa. The Iron Girls enter Kitchen Colosseum. The girls will split into two teams: Italian (Green) vs. Chinese (Red).
The master chef teaching the Italian team is two time challenger in Kitchen Stadium; Hiromi Yamada (217 – Cabbage vs. Chen, 1994 Mr. Iron Chef).
The master chef teaching the Chinese team was also a challenger in Kitchen Stadium; Nawasaka Matsuo (539OA – Spare Rib vs. Chen.)
The girls are getting lessons from the chefs. The pasta looks OK, but Nakazawa Yuko seems to be having a little bit of trouble with the fish. In the red kitchen, Ishikawa Rika watches the chef take a thin slice of pepper and says, “Muri.” (Impossible), but she still makes an effort.
It’s time to finally begin. We don’t get our usual Fukui-san, but we do get to see the ever present Dr. Yukio Hattori. The guests include a familiar face to IC fans. Tatsuo Umemiya (guest and challenger in ep 245), Hayashiya Kobuhei (actor), Imori Miyuki (actress). And the most familiar voice in Kitchen Stadium, Shinichiro Ota is also on hand.
The three theme ingredients are: Red Pacific Sea Bream (Tai), Matsuzaka Beef, Ostrich Eggs.
The teams will be cooking one at a time. The Chinese team is selected to cook first. The rules are that the master chef can give advice during the first 50 minutes of the battle, but he must not touch anything. During the final 10 minutes, he is allowed to directly help the girls with their dishes.
Chinese Team – Round 1
Abe Natsumi quickly removes the scales from the fish while Rika almost removes her fingers while cutting off a slab of beef. Fortunately, the chef reminds her to tuck her fingers under when doing knife work. They are stuffing the fish with oolong tea. Yaguchi Mari is preparing salt for a salt-crust grill treatment for the fish. They seem to be taking a long time to cut into the ostrich egg so they can start their dessert. They are going to make an ostrich egg meringue and a mango puree.
Rika forgets the rule that the chef can’t touch anything, so he can’t even taste her dish. She decides on her own that it is “O.K.” Abe grows impatient waiting for her fish and says the oven is “osoi” (slow).
Italian Team – Round 2
Nakazawa Yuko was chosen to do the main dish but doesn’t seem too excited about working with the fish. The Italian side also has abalone, squid, and shrimp. While the Chinese team took the time to saw through their ostrich egg, the Italian team is going after theirs with a hammer. They ask Nakazawa what she is feeling, and while I’m not sure what she says, I would imagine it is something about not wanting to put her hand in the fish. They put a huge slab of beef on the grill. Of course, they are making pasta. The chef really has to move fast during his ten minutes of action. After it’s done, they ask Nakazawa if that was her first time cooking fish. (I think.) She said, “Yes.”
It is time for the judgment, but not before Morning Musume performs their #1 song Happy Summer Wedding. (Subtitled PV here.) Anyway, back to the judgment.
Umemiya – Chinese Team 16, Italian Team 16
Kobuhei – Chinese Team 18, Italian Team 17
Imori – Chinese Team 18, Italian Team 19
Totals – Chinese Team 52, Italian Team 52
A tie!! Oh well, at least we got to see Morning Musume have fun in the kitchen.
New in the database this week: Ryori no Tetsu-Musume
Sakai vs. Philippe Groult
Originally aired 12/15/95
Iron Chef: The Official Book episode# 111
Iron Chef Collection episode# 348
A special challenger, for a special Christmas battle: Philippe Groult, who studied under Joel Robuchon at Jamin from 1981-84. In 1982, at age 28, Groult won the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF, a prize also awarded to Robuchon, and to Claude Le Tohic, currently head chef at Robuchon’s restaurant in Las Vegas). Groult went on to open his own restaurant, L’Amphycles, in Paris. He earned two Michelin stars in two years.
Robuchon himself has a few words for the Chairman: “Although it’s going to be an uphill battle, I trust his talents. I want him to proudly represent the true flavors of French cuisine. With his depth of knowledge, skill, and experience, I’m sure he can win.”
Groult challenges Sakai — a strictly French battle. The unveiled ingredient is “what the French go crazy over on Christmas Eve, with champagne glasses in hand–”
“Oysters!”
Actress Fumie Hosokawa (After seeing some of her other work, a special BKS edition may be needed. 😉 -Keith) and Honorary Chef French Yutaka Ishinabe join Kenji Fukui and Dr. Yukio Hattori on the commentators’ panel. (more…)
The first battle between these two chefs was declared a no contest by Chairman Kaga because of the poor quality of some of the dishes. (It featured one of the “worst 3 dishes” as announced by the Chairman during the 2000th Dish Special.)
The theme for this battle is Shiroshita Karei. It literally means “Flounder at the foot of the castle.”
Nakamura made sure to turn on the rice cooker very early in this battle to avoid the mistake he made during the first battle. I think Sakai is hanging out in Kitchen Stadium because he admires how often this challenger uses circle molds.
I didn’t have much time to watch this one and look up the dishes. Sorry about that.
This time, we get a clear winner. You’ll have to watch to see who.
New in the database this week: 534OA
New episode review coming later this week.
It has been two and a half years since we had a challenger from Kyushu. The challenger is one of the top French chefs in Kyushu. He runs his own French restaurant, which he opened at only 26 years of age. He recently opened a location at a department store.
It has the commercial with Ninety-nine at the beach and the cute younger sister and an Ichiro commercial.
For some reason, the chairman starts laughing as soon as he says Allez Cuisine.
Sakai is in Kitchen Stadium to watch the battle today. I’m pretty sure that the Iron Chefs who were not doing battle that day were not usually in Kitchen Stadium to watch. Perhaps he was there to tape another episode later. The challenger has some guests as well. We see his wife, son, and daughter watching from the royal box.
Nakamura’s side seemed to make a major mistake by not pushing the switch on the rice cooker to turn it on until 15 minutes remained in the battle. Did they catch their mistake in time? Near the end of the battle, Nakamura tells Ohta that the rice should be ok, but it was a close call. I think it ended up not being ready, but I’m not positive.
Both sides have the ice cream makers running. The challenger seems to be having some trouble turning his off so he can get the ice cream out.
The Challenger’s dishes include: Jagaimo and Motsu soup (Potato and Offal soup), Mash Potato Hairtail Roll, Beef Filet under Hakata-method Galette, Vichyssoise (During the tasting of the final dish, the challenger is standing in a spot that makes it look like his head is on fire. 🙂)
Nakamura’s dishes include: Potato and Truffle Dumpling with Mentaiko Sauce, Potato Manjuu (steamed bun) Something, Potato and Salmon Grill, Meat and Potato Croquette and Sujebi (a Korean soup)(Maybe? I’m not sure.), Curry Ice Cream with Potato Sauce (I really hope I have that wrong!)
Oops. I have been corrected regarding this battle. Apparently, they had a rematch because the dishes weren’t good enough to be evaluated. I guess that’s why the next battle was a full 60 minutes.
The second battle between these two chefs will be posted tomorrow. It isn’t a normal 30 minute overtime battle.
Also this week, I’d like to let everyone know about a contest being run by the fine folks at Foodtvfans.com. Go to the thread linked and follow the instructions. You could win a free microwave. And while you are there, join in the conversations. The people that run the site are very friendly and knowledgeable. Unlike some food sites, they encourage open discussions about any topic. Help them grow their new forum.
Over the years, there were several Valentine’s Day dessert battles held in Kitchen Stadium. Today, we turn your attention to three of them.
Enjoy these special episodes of Iron Chef with the one you love.
New Japanese language episodes will be posted no later than Thursday of next week. Look for them.
Today, we bring to you the second half of the 1997 Iron Chef World Cup. (Part 1 is here.)
Alain Passard vs. Koumei Nakamura in the final of the 1997 Iron Chef World Cup.
It starts with Michiba going on a visit with Nakamura. Michiba says, “Iron Chef Nakamura has lost his way.” It even sounded like he said something about his dishes not tasting good. Was he really knocking Nakamura that much? They visit a farmer who has been farming eggplants for 30 years. They cut a round eggplant off the stalk and take a bite from it while still out in the field.
Nakamura looks on as Michiba gives him a demonstration, concluding with a lesson about finding good flavors from different ingredient combinations. (Although it almost looked like Nakamura was just adding things for the sake of adding them.) Perhaps Michiba agrees because he tells him there is too much flavor. (or too many flavors?)
The last thing we see before the battle is the presentation of a hand-made knife to Nakamura. His name is carved into it by the knife maker himself. We know that Michiba personally chose Nakamura to be his replacement, but we really see the way he mentors him in this episode.