"If memory serves me correct..." Iron Chef is a name that strikes a chord in almost any true foodies' heart, whether it is the distinct memory of seeing most of the world's greatest chefs battle Japan's finest, or just the simple fun of seeing such intensity with cooking food on your TV screen. For me, I joined the millions of Iron Chef fans around 2000, about the same time everyone else here did; I was stunned. I couldn't believe that people could put so much intensity into their work. I grew to appreciate food just as they did, and began to realize how wrong we really have it here in the U.S. With obesity on the rise, we continue to see food only in its worth and buy only what we can get for the cheapest price. In Iron Chef, this couldn't be more opposite. Seeing a $200 dish isn't rare, and only the finest of materials goes into a meal prepared by an Iron Chef or challenger. Now with Iron Chef America, one can again watch as the best do battle, nearly just as they did several years ago in the original Kitchen Stadium. The flare is all there as Alton Brown and Kevin Brauch entertain us as we watch our own American Iron Chefs do battle. With the magic of a new Kitchen Stadium in place, we are likely to see as many memorable events as the original. One great memory in my mind is seeing Iron Chef Sakai and his trout ice cream. I can only hope to see Batali, Flay, Cora or Morimoto attempt a similar daring, and somewhat yucky, dish; all in the name of Iron Chef. So in short, we have real food in America, and we have the chefs to make it. Now we get the honor and privilege of seeing them in action in our own legendary Kitchen Stadium. Allez cuisine!
