Bobby Flay and Michael Smith (Photos courtesy of the Food Network)
Michael Smith has picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Bobby Flay. On the January 31 episode of Iron Chef America, the Canadian celebrity chef will face off with the American celebrity chef in New York’s Kitchen Stadium. Smith is bringing along two sous-chefs, part of what he calls his “A-team”: retired Navy cook Bill Pratt (Smith’s “logistics chief”) and Calgary restaurateur Paul Rogalski (Smith’s “general right-hand man”). The panel of judges that night will include actor Antonio Sabato Jr. and food expert Donatella Arpaia.
While Flay has some face-saving to do (having been a part of the whole rigged-vegetables-from-the-White-House fiasco), Smith basks in his Olympic nod: he’s just arrived in Whistler to lead a team of chefs in preparing a menu for athletes—that’s around 12,000 meals per day for all 85 of the competing teams.
We’re banking on an Iron Chef acting as a harbinger. If Canada can best the U.S. in Kitchen Stadium, can hockey gold be far behind?
• Canadian Chef Michael Smith battles it out on Iron Chef America [CNW]
I can’t wait to see Michael Smith break a sweat. Hopefully he realizes his kindergarten tone of voice won’t fly down there…
January 21, 2010 at 12:39 pm | by mattagascar slimYou can do it too !!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 21, 2010 at 10:45 pm | by Roger WilcoGo Micheal!!!!! Will be watching and cheering for him with my boys tonight-he’s our favourite Chef :-)
January 31, 2010 at 4:25 pm | by TraceySPOILER ALERT!!!!!
I think they tore out his heart and served it back to him. I’ve never seen someone lose by 14 points before. They had very little positive say about any of his cuisine.
Well,you know what the insecure Canadian in me thinks of the american judging….. ;)
January 31, 2010 at 10:12 pm | by Eddy Punch ClockI watch both Michael and Bobby regularly and think highly of both of them. I was shocked to see how they put Michael’s presentation dishes down. In my mind, he was the better chef in this instance. Maybe because he is a proud Canadian (though born in America), the judges had to put down his dishes to make Bobby look good but his dishes were far superior to Bobby’s. I was shocked to see the judges being so nasty to him. Michael, in my mind you are the star. I always watch you and love you Michael. I love how you also put your Rachelle and your son on the show. I will keep watching you in your “Chef Abroad” and “Chef at Home” because you are the best. (I am originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland but live in Toronto) Cheers for a job well done Michael.
January 31, 2010 at 10:23 pm | by Sharon E. Janeswhen will the hypocrisy ever stop?? so the judges according to u liked bobby flay because they and him were americans, not cuz of the dishes but because of their nationality, and u say u prefer michael smith because u r both canadians, so really the only difference is their vote counted and yours didnt??? its pathetic!!! cant u just be gracious losers and not wine whenever things don’t turn out in the favor of the o so humble canuck?? i get so fed up with the double standard!!
February 1, 2010 at 1:39 am | by Peggy SueThe score was pretty shocking. I thought Smith outshone Flay on the plating and originality for sure. Taste is a matter of preference, and I think the 3 judges preferred to eat things that were more familiar to them than to accept something a little more out there. I don’t think the scores were fair, as I think Smith deserved better. But that said; Flay is Flay — extremely hard to beat. And avocado is definitely a familiar southwestern staple for that southwestern chef.
February 1, 2010 at 2:18 am | by KristinaThank you for confirming what i always thought. Chef Smith’s cuisine is very basic and bland. His food lacks a depth of flavour. Is it me or does he put bay leaves in almost everything?? P.S. – I’m a Canadian. Bobby Flay for president!
February 1, 2010 at 2:21 am | by Rajthe difference in scores is all the proof you need to see the judges were un qualified.
February 1, 2010 at 8:58 am | by MacSHROOMthe look on Flays face at the end said alot too.he knew there was shenannigans .it doesnt mater Canadian american spanish.there is NEVER a score difference like that.none of the judges were qualified to judge food in any sort of informed manner.i think we can all agree on that .if steingardener and the regs were there,the comments and score would have reflected an informed opinion.
NObody loses by that much.
i hope there is a rematch as soon as Mike rests up after the olympics.
Yes, I don’t think it was a fair score for Chef Michael Smith either. So those judges thought they’re all have the best pallettes in the whole universe??? Yeah, get real!!
February 1, 2010 at 10:54 am | by corinAs far as judging, there was one on the panel to counter Donatella Arpaia. For me, she was the real problem with the “judging” and in the end, the episode did seem rigged. Michael Smith is a serious contender, very very talented and as creative as any of them. His club sandwich was assembled with wit and if you watched closely, just before the commercial when the 60 minutes was called, you could see Flay really looking over Smith’s presentations.
Stuff like this makes me miss the Japanese original version more. It was an all-around more entertaining but also honest program.
February 1, 2010 at 11:06 am | by KatherineTypical. Just because a Canadian loses the fix must be in. Why can’t you all just accept the fact he is nothing more than a cookbook chef now. He’s not in their league and it has nothing to do with his nationality (and yes, I’m Canadian and proud of it!). By the way he’s been making those silly anchors for about a decade now. Perhaps it’s time to try something new and current?
February 1, 2010 at 11:12 am | by MattagascarMattagascar, nobody who watches Iron Chef saw his anchors. There’s nothing wrong with bringing a trademark to your dishes. The fact is that the judges were terrible. Nobody was saying Smith was a clear winner, it’s the gap in scores that are highly suspect. And the “actor” judge “I don’t like oysters, I don’t like avacado” – hmm… maybe they should have chosen a judge that actually likes food. He clearly knew he was out of his element so followed along the other judges.
February 1, 2010 at 12:13 pm | by GustavAnyone who watches this show regulary knows the scoring was way off the scale. Loosing by a couple of points is normal, but not what happened on that episode. Popular chefs are now more celebrities than in the past, they can all be called
February 1, 2010 at 12:42 pm | by Katherine“cookbook chefs” which is hardly an insult and its perhaps more than you or I will ever achieve in the kitchen, Mattagascar.
I agree with anyone who says the judging wasn’t fair. Chef Michael Smith had a lot of originality and I think that scared the judges. Amen to what Gustav said, get judges that actually like food… No judge on Iron Chef America should have a right to say they don’t like some food or much less judge accordingly. I love to watch both Smith and Flay. The difference in scoring was not just, period.
February 1, 2010 at 12:57 pm | by Jaime