From 2001 - 2011, Vivian and I battled in Iron Chef competitions to the entertainment of our friends. Viv won....well...all of them. Except the last, where we tied.
2001, New Year's - Playing fairly loosely with the Iron Chef rules, due to having only the one kitchen and no apparent sense of self-preservation, we were allowed two days to prepare, but only one hour to complete, plate, and serve each challenge. There were six challenges, so everyone got a turn on the tasting panel, and many folks got turns at playing Chairman Kaga.
Vivian - Eggs Benedict, over toast and ham.
Daniel - Frittata Carbonara
Vivian - Steak tartare, and a steak with brandy-peppercorn sauce.
Daniel - Beef sushi rolls, and a garlic and beef-fat fried rice.
Vivian - Baked onions with chestnut stuffing
Daniel - Onion soup gratinee
Vivian - Rum and cherry coke ice cream
Daniel - Chocolate fondue with maraschino cherries soaked in various liquors
Vivian - Fudge "presents" with white chocolate and almond leaves
Daniel - Orangeboom crepes over a divided plate of chocolate and orange sauces.
Vivian - Grilled pinapple with cayenne over pork chops
Daniel - Pineapple Foster
Verdict: Vivian, by 4 points (out of 300)
Chairman Tyler (for his birthday), when asked what he would like us to cook for him, suggested an exhibition match, a one-ingredient battle as a prelude to our full rematch at the end of the year. We accepted.
Late Wednesday, he revealed the secret ingredient (so we'd have time to go shopping)...battle Grape! But grape in all its forms. Grapes. Raisins. Wine. Vinegar. Grappa. With a full day, similar sources, and a mild case of telepathy, we were a bit worried that we'd be making the same things. Fortunately, we overlapped more in interpretation than execution.
Vivian - Stuffed grape leaves (sushi-style)
Daniel - Stuffed grape leaves (traditional) with currants, raisins, and dill in a lemon sauce
Vivian - Cold poached turkey salad with green grapes
Daniel - Dill and morel chicken croquettes with spicy grape salsa
Vivian - Pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto and sage leaves with a roasted Concord grape sauce
Daniel - Red wine and mushroom risotto
Vivian - Apple-raisin turnovers
Daniel - Creme caramel with tokaji syrup and grappa raisins
Verdict: Vivian, by 3 points (out of 300)
Out of 320 points (5 for originality, 5 for appearance, 10 for taste for each of the four dishes)...Viv won by only 3 points this time. So, if she won by 4 points in 2001, it's only 4 more battles before I win! Until then, I get to eat the cooking of the best chef in Somerville <g>
In honor of smoagendash and koshmom 's wedding, we held exhibition match: Garlic.
Sadly, there will be no formal battles until the boy is of an age to be patient for one whole day, or we get a babysitter willing to watch the kid while we cook and would like to participate in and watch the boy during the tasting.
Amuse (Daniel): Stuffed mushroom with homemade garlic sausage, topped with black garlic
Appetizer (both): Bruschetta 3 ways - Rubbed with raw garlic and topped with garlic-marinated bell peppers, topped with olive-herb and roasted garlic tapenade, and "bagna cauda" style.
Soup (Daniel): Chicken mousseline quenelles in garlic broth.
Salad (Vivian): Classic chopped salad with homemade ranch dressing and bacon
Main #1 (Daniel): Crepes Baxter - Chicken crepes with a garlic and vermouth veloute
Main #2 (Vivian): Potato Gnocchi and Roasted Garlic ragout
Dessert (Vivian): Roasted Garlic Pumpkin Pie with maple syrup and coconut milk
As always, a good time was had by all. Must keep mousseline out of the hands of the cats, then sleep.
So....I hate raw tomatoes. I like them as part of a sauce, but not too prominent unless it is the Abraham Family Spaghetti Sauce (which, apparently, according to a person steeped in Northern and Southern Italian cuisine, is actually an excellent tomato stew). So we called in help. Rick joined us for this round.
Amuse and Cocktail - BLT skewers (Dan) & Bloody Maru (Viv)
Bacon, arugula, confit cherry tomato, and toast squares on skewers, served tapas-style on top of a Bloody Mary made with sake rather than vodka.
Appetizer (Rick) Trio of Tacos and Salsas
Steak, chicken, and carnitas (pork braised with orange, pineapple, ginger, and chipotle) with matching salsas in tomatillo, pico de gallo, and pinapple tomato.
Soup (Dan) Golden Gazpacho Sorbet
Yellow tomato gazpacho with a spoonful of extra spicy poblano gazpacho.
Main (Dan) Grandma Abraham's Meatball Sandwich
An old family sauce recipe, mixed with a new meatball recipe, on a cute tiny Iggy's dinner roll.
Salad (Viv) Strawberry, Watermelon, and Tomato salad
Just what I said <g>.
Main (Viv) Steak in Fresh Tomato Sauce w/homemade pasta
10 minute tomato sauce with Speckled Roma tomatoes.
Dessert (Rick) Dessert Bruschetta
Fresh shortbread with husk tomato & mint jam plus whipped cream.
And we tied! I finally have a not-loss against Vivian, and will rest on my battle laurels.
attempting to reconstruct what we made from memory and the shopping list...
Dessert (Daniel) Fried Apple Pie - smoked Granny Smith apples, Calvados sabayon
Appetizer (Daniel) Smoked sausage and apple soup
Amuse (Daniel) - apple, brie, major grey chutney
Salad (Vivian) - duck prosciutto, frisee & pickled apple salad.