Copyright Rose Cooper, 2002
This is my list. There are others like it, but this list is mine. You know the rest...
As a relative newcomer to Iron Chef (I've only been watching about a year), I know I haven't seen even a full season of the shows the Food Network has to offer; still, without further apology, these are the ones I've enjoyed most thus far. I'd love to hear what your choices would be. Oh, and don't worry: I won't include any relevant spoiler info, not even the Iron Chef who faced that particular challenger, unless necessary.
In no particular order:
Battle Porcini Mushroom:
In which challenger Marco Molinari, Italian Pasta champion, had a grand ol' time in Kitchen Stadium. I don't think I've seen a more relaxed, more fun challenger.
Battle Lobster:
Aside from the infamous Bobby "Mr. Ugly American" Flay battle, this is the only show I've seen with an American challenger; in this case, Ron Siegel from San Francisco. Say what you will about Siegel's "Toby"-like naming of "Teddy" and "Cat"; at least he didn't stand on his cutting board.
Battle Cabbage:
Hiromi Yamada was once an extremely popular chef, until tragedy befell him; in this battle, a humbled Yamada sees Iron Chef as a way to begin his now much more low-key comeback. On US-based TV, this story might have been made to look like a soapy ridicule of a man's misfortunes; thank goodness the real Iron Chef isn't an American show after all.
Battle Conger Eel (Anago):
I'm known for my weak stomach, and this battle sorely tested me; but I was too busy cracking up at how the chefs were trying to do the humane thing by putting the eels "to sleep" on a bed of dry ice and wine. Yes, you heard right: they tried to lull the eels into a drunken stupor. Even funnier - and definitely more gross - was the "ah, f'kit" attitude the chefs finally took when they realized the eels weren't about to cooperate.
Battle Stingray:
In many of the battles, a widely-respected master chef will make (or accept) the challenge to Kaga, and bring his top apprentice on to do the actual cooking challenge. This battle is one such. I got the biggest kick out of watching challenger Yoshihide Koga's master, Noboru Inoue, get soused to the point where he does a ghetto beatdown on one of Koga's assistants. What Drama!
Battle Ayu (Sweetfish):
Poor Morimoto. Bad enough that he was feeling it on both ends and down the middle, what with Kandagawa and his Otha Faction constantly after him; with the Ayu Battle, he also has to deal with a challenge from the representative of one of the other Iron Chefs!
Battle Truffles:
Dr. Yukio Hattori, a well-known chef and teacher in his own right, and who normally provides color commentary for the show, challenges Chairman Kaga to make him an Iron Chef through beating one of the existing IC's. I got nuttin' but love for Hattori-san, but I do think this one is my mostest favoritest episode of all times. Every time I see poor Doc standing there with that apple in his hand, insisting on having an Iron Chef-style panel made for him when (ObFukui) Tha Battle Is Ova!, man, I just bust a gut.
Agree? Disagree? Coolness, either way. Use the feedback form below to let me know what your favorite IC battles are, and I'll post them here.
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