Iron Chef America White House Battle

[mickeyboat]

I thought Alton looked terrible, too. Not just thin, but also very yellow. I wonder what is going on with him, and why the Chairman did not show up at this battle.

I was really not impressed with the choice of judges. It was supposed to be some epic battle, and except for Nigella Lawson, the judges were not food experts. I mean really, Jane Seymour is an expert because she has a garden?

The two teams tied for taste, so the difference was originality and presentation (right?). I did not see where there was much difference between the two teams on those two fronts.

Oh well. It was fun to watch Emeril and Mario work together, brother.

 

[brerrabbit]

I thought Alton looked terrible, too. Not just thin, but also very yellow. I wonder what is going on with him, and why the Chairman did not show up at this battle.

I was really not impressed with the choice of judges. It was supposed to be some epic battle, and except for Nigella Lawson, the judges were not food experts. I mean really, Jane Seymour is an expert because she has a garden?

The two teams tied for taste, so the difference was originality and presentation (right?). I did not see where there was much difference between the two teams on those two fronts.

Oh well. It was fun to watch Emeril and Mario work together, brother.

It was probably filmed during the time the chairman was in LA taping Dancing with the Stars so they could not have him both places at once.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I kept telling Dh that Alton looked bad, but then again, I haven't watched ICA in awhile. I thought it was just me. I thought it was fexed too, I was sure Batali and Lagasse were going to win, they were having so much fun and Flay was being so stuck up, I have never seen him act quite that short.

I almost didn't watch when I saw who the special guse twas, but I tolerated and then was disappointed.

Suzanne

 

[disney1990]

I saw Alton Brown on a television show talking. He is not sick; he simply felt that after looking at how much weight he had gained and looking at the size of the people that came to his shows, he needed to lose weight and help his audience on the road to better choices.

 

[punkin]

Alton looks sick, not just thin. I noticed that Emeril and Mario were working together on the same dishes while Bobby and the White House Chef were working parallel to each other on separate dishes. I can't judge the taste but I would have given originality and presentation points the other way.

 

[mrsv98]

Alton looks sick, not just thin. I noticed that Emeril and Mario were working together on the same dishes while Bobby and the White House Chef were working parallel to each other on separate dishes. I can't judge the taste but I would have given originality and presentation points the other way.

The "presentation" of the Flay/Cummerford side was for the most part awful IMHO. Much of it looked messy, like they were trying to get as many veggies on the plate as possible regardless of how it looked. As for MB/EL, I am going to try and replicate the raviolo and the veg mixture with the pear, carrot, current etc, that looked SO yummy!

I think they chose the guest judges because it was preordained and if they had their regular judges, it would be much harder to sell. Can you see Jeffery choosing the Flay/Cummerford team? I think not.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

The whole premise was to cook healthy for the "American People". So the judges were a professional cook, an actress who does garden and eat healthy, and an athlete who most likely eats healthy.

The presentation is part of the "American People" thing. I think that Flay/Comerford duo put plates out that I would feel more comfortable doing than the other team did. And in one part the judges mentioned the Flay team kept to the "roots" of the vegetable while the other team changed it up more..

With that all being said, I think that the final decisions were not skewed, but the judges were picked appropriately to get the final decision that fit the show's theme.

 

[Nette]

I must be in the minority on two counts.

1) I think Alton looks great. Not too skinny or unhealthy at ALL. America's idea of a healthy weight is really skewed these days. Honestly, Mario and Emeril looked gross to me. They could both stand to lose a LOT of weight and they were both sweating into their work.

2) My money was on Flay/Commerford before the show even started. I prefer Flay's style of cooking, and I figured Commerford would make much healthier dishes because she works for the Obamas (and they are into that). However, their "chowder" just looked gross.

The only thing that Emeril and Mario made that looked good to me was the raviolo. At least two of the other dishes looked burnt.

I do agree that I was disappointed by the judges. They could've gotten judges with SOME real food critique experience.

 

[mrsv98]

I must be in the minority on two counts.

1) I think Alton looks great. Not too skinny or unhealthy at ALL. America's idea of a healthy weight is really skewed these days. Honestly, Mario and Emeril looked gross to me. They could both stand to lose a LOT of weight and they were both sweating into their work.

For me, it isn't the weight so much as how sallow his skin looked and how dry and papery his hair looked. To me there is something "off" besides his weight. Also, if you watched, all the chefs sweat tremendously. Studio lights are extremely hot on their own, add in all the heating elements, grills, gas range, salamander, ovens and my guess is that is is over 100 degrees in the cooking area. That being said, Emeril and Mario do need to lose weight.

 

[momrek06]

For me, it isn't the weight so much as how sallow his skin looked and how dry and papery his hair looked. To me there is something "off" besides his weight. Also, if you watched, all the chefs sweat tremendously. Studio lights are extremely hot on their own, add in all the heating elements, grills, gas range, salamander, ovens and my guess is that is is over 100 degrees in the cooking area. That being said, Emeril and Mario do need to lose weight.

ITA! When the show opened and there stood Alton, I instantly was taken aback....omg, he looks yellow, thin and sickly.

As far as the sweating...I do realize the kitchen/stoves/ovens and the hot lights cause everyone to sweat but I kept hearing (in my head) Chef Gordon Ramsay from Hell's Kitchen SCREAMING at the contestants...."You are sweating in the food" Emeril was a mess, constantly wiping his brow.
Why don't they make the facilities really cold (a/c) for competitions like this where everyone is running, cooking, baking, hot lights etc etc????

 

[si-am]

The whole premise was to cook healthy for the "American People". So the judges were a professional cook, an actress who does garden and eat healthy, and an athlete who most likely eats healthy.

Never mind that two of them aren't American at all.

 

[mickeyboat]

Never mind that two of them aren't American at all.

Good one!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Never mind that two of them aren't American at all.

Jeepers Creepers.. Bad on my part, I didn't even put two plus two together, totally missed that..

 

[si-am]

I thought it was strange myself that they were trying to make it such an American-themed show but then had two British judges.

Though I love Nigella, so I was happy to see her there!

 

[maslex]

I missed the show.

Can someone tell me who the special guest was? Seems a few people were upset on who it was.

 

[si-am]

I missed the show.

Can someone tell me who the special guest was? Seems a few people were upset on who it was.

Michelle Obama. She came out to the White House lawn to tell the chefs the secret ingredient: anything from the garden.

She was on the screen for all of 1 minute-- not really enough to get anyone all riled up, or so I thought!

 

[minniebeth]

I did notice the weight change in Alton but couldn't see his overall health I guess (I've lost my glasses and am watching tv and can't see much! ) He seemed to have a decent appetite! It was kind of funny how he was digging into the sweet potato tart dessert!

I did like Lagasse/Batalli's dishes and presentations better too.

They kept talking about how fresh the vegetables and ingredients are, and I love vegetables! My mouth was watering at everything being made! Never in my history of watching Iron Chef did ALL the dishes appeal to me the way they did in this episode.

I thought it was entertaining to watch Lagasse and Batalli cook together!

 

[TDC Nala]

Alton's too thin, but he's always had that birthmark or whatever it is on his face.

I was just glad they didn't get too preachy with the White House garden thing, but Emeril and Mario should have won. Even though they were sweating. They could have made the room cold but ya know TV lights are VERY hot.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I was pleased and proud to hear about the amount of produce and honey that is coming out of the White house garden. I applaud the Obamas for their focus on healthy eating, and for Michelle to use the media for a good cause.

I had to go to bed right after the first team completed serving their meal, so thanks for the "catch -up"

 

[donaldduck352]

I'm A huge Alton Brown fan and yes he looked way to thin.Maybe he missed A Botox injection appointment,he is getting older!!

All in all I thought it was one of the best Iron Chef's I've seen yet.I realy thought Emiral and Battalli won,but I'm not the judge.Good thing cause I have favorites.