Iron Chef America: Battle Rice
This week, Chef Paul Bartolla took on Iron Chef Batali in a battle of heavyweight Italian cooking. The secret ingredient was rice and the judges were Ted Allen, Victoria Von Biel (executive editor of Bon Appetit), and Mario Rizzotti (culinary specialist at Academia Barilla).
Chef Bartolla served up five dishes: rice salad (which Ted said was the “best in Italian cooking”), tortino de riso, risotto al nero (which Mario called “superb”), squab liver risotto, and sweet rice apple fritters. Iron Chef Batali also served up five dishes: paella croqueta with wild rice horchata (Victoria was “blown away” by the horchata), a trio of rice-crusted scallops, osso bucco in a bone (which Ted said was “clever”), acorn squash risotto, and bibimbap.
It was very, very close and I thought maybe Chef Bartolla would pull off an upset, but in the end, Iron Chef Batali prevailed. The scoring was close in plating, originality, and taste, with Iron Chef Batali beating Chef Bartolla by only one point in each category.
Read these other great entries
May 16th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I have to disagree with those judges. No way did Chef Batali out do Chef Paul Bartolla. Bartolla won hands down.
If the dish looks ridiculous then the judges vote for it.
Give me a break! The judges are sell outs!
July 14th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Well Barbara,I have to agree with you partially.
Bartolotta is a fantastic chef, but when you want to beat an iron chef you need to use all the variety of rice you have in front of you……..not only arborio rice. you are called Iron Chef because you supposed to cook with any item and most of them, not only one…….the judges are not a sell out and I am one of the judges.
July 16th, 2009 at 8:15 am
First off, you’re not one of the judges. Secondly, ICA [Iron Chef America] is nothing compared to ICJ [Iron Chef Japan]. Those chefs were incredible especially Hiroyuki Sakai. In addition, watching the battle between Bobby Flay vs. Peter Kelley, how did Flay lose? Even though he isn’t one of my favorite chefs, the way it was edited; it showed Flay clearly won. This show needs more pizazz. Bring in better talent to challenge these so-called ‘Iron Chefs.’ Hubert Keller? Now thats a Master Chef!
August 11th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Luc,
my name is mario Rizzotti and I am a judge on Iron Chef America.
you are more then welcome to contact me and I will tell you that I am one of the judges. Evidentely you must have not seen this specific episode but if you have a chance contact me. In regards of your point of you on the judges the judges have their own taste and the points are not altered and trust me in the future if you see some of my new battles you will be surprised of the results.
In regards of the better chef to challenge they would love to have those chef in , if they will agree to be on the show as well. Put your own input on the Food Network web page they might take it in consideration….but do not ever forget that the challenger chef have one SMALL disadvantage that you do not know because you are not their cooking or watching them cooking……..KITCHEN STADIUM is not their own kitchen.
Anyway if was not nice of you thinking i was lying on being a judge on Iron Chef America,but you are more then welcome to contact me via Facebook mail and I will call you personally.
Ciao and thank you for watching the show.
Sincerely,
MArio Rizzotti