Iron Chef: Battle Carrot
Tonight’s challenger was Todd Richards, executive chef at the Oak Room in Lexington, KY. He chose to battle Iron Chef Cat Cora. The secret ingredient – carrots!
The judges were actress Cady Huffman, Karine Bakhoum from KB network news, and the usual suspect, Jeffrey Steingarten. Oddly enough, both sides of kitchen stadium made carrot droplets or caviar as they were calling it.
Iron Chef Cora presented a carrot-tini, carrot and ricotta gnocchi, a carrot trio, pea and carrot cannelloni, short rib of carrot (which Karine called “spectacular”), and a chocolate carrot cake. Chef Richards presented a deli carrot salad (that Jeffrey called “delightful”), smoked turkey and carrot soup, baby carrots sautéed in ginger, carrots osso buco style, and flavors of carrot cake.
I thought Chef Richards had it, but in the end, it basically came down to plating. Iron Chef Cora won by a score of 48 to 46. She received a 22 for taste while Chef Richards received a 23. Both received 13 for originality, but Iron Chef Cora got a 13 for plating, versus Chef Richard’s 10.
Read these other great entries
December 7th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
I have to say that it is not the first (or second) time I thought a Cat Cora episode was fixed. It certainly was the most blatant incident. I guess she has a term contract so they want her to look good.
The judges made numerous less than excellent comments about Cora’s offerings and gave Todd Richards good comments on everything. Considering the comments and complaints I can’t see how there could have been one point difference in taste. From what I saw, the plating was closer than that. Three points? C’mon!
Todd Richards was ripped off. Fixed! If it gets any more blatant than that, the show will (should) go down the tubes. It certainly cannot compare to the great Japanese show. Wish they would bring it back and can this Frankenstein.
They have apparently canned Batali.
December 8th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Fixed. Fixed. Fixed. Cat is the only iron chef that this rigged show will allow you to beat, but on that rare occassion, it is only by one point. Don’t get me started on that Bobby Flay winning streak. It’s hard to take the entire network seriously after watching episodes such as the Cora robbery with chef Richards. Sad. Even the audience seemed a bit shocked when the announcement was made. Plating? Give me a break!! She even tried stealing most of his ideas. Cat had a problem looking the other chef in the eye after winning. How do the executives at the food network sleep at night?…..
December 9th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
I agree with the statement above. Todd Richards should have won that battle. Cat should not have won. If your program is not going to be fair, maybe you should considering telling the audience that way I don’t have to stay up and watch it.
Thank you.
Jan
January 13th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Been looking for the ep for a while. Thanks for a recap. Oh, and Richards is from Louisville, KY not Lexington. Big rivalry between those cities and they are very different. Surprised no on has called you on it.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:39 am
I am convinced as well that the show is rigged, after watching episode after episode where comments favour the challenger yet of course Iron chef prevails. But of course if the Iron chef did not win, they wouldn’t be an iron chef would they?
August 16th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I was there @ the taping of the battle of the Carrot to show support to the real winner, and When They made the announcement that she won, it was gut wrenching, No one could believe it in the whole place. , Needless to say, that is, and was the last time I watched the show.
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I’ve been watching the Iron Chef for a while, but the Carrot battle with Chef Cora and Chef Richard was down right WRONG. How in this world could the panel give Cora the win, this show should be EMBARRASSED. But what should I expected.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I almost turned off this episode 10 minutes from the end, certain Chef Richards had one, but wanting to see it announced. I was shocked. The judges had damning remarks about the taste of her food. And it did not look 3 points prettier.
I’m so tired of all the fast-rush-quick cooking. If they are going to edit anyway, why not let the chefs have say a whole extra 60 minutes to turn out their very best? It’s just not exciting to keep watching cooking shows trying to judge the-best-that-could-be-done-in-not-enougth-time-allowed.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
It’s a fix! see the paula dean episode! How could she have won?
November 5th, 2009 at 5:05 am
The first thing I noticed was the Lexington error. I’ve dined in the Oakroom for many years when in Louisville visiting friends or going to the Derby City Classic Pool Tournament. I recall recognizing a noticeable dining experience improvement when Todd took over the Oakroom. I commented to the matradee, Troy, and he replied that there was a new executive chef in the kitchen. He kindly introduced me and my party to Todd and over the next several years I always made it a point to say hello when enjoying dinner there and occasionally Todd would hang out with us. I haven’t been in Louisville in a couple of years and I believe the Seelbach has since been sold. It appears from the Seelbach website that Todd has moved on. It seems from the comments here that Todd got hustled in his Iron Chef match. I hope to have the pleasure of dining again with him if my path happens to cross his in the future.