T h e   2010  R e v i e w

If you weren't at this happening, you missed some really good food.  Everything that was
created had a Wow Factor that was something else.  Every single dish, if served on its own
would have commanded many oohs and ahhs, the problem was that pesky competition.  There
were just too many great chefs in the same place.  But if you are on the eating end, what is
there not to like?  Now don't let this impressive line-up scare you away from entering next
year.  Our Ultimate Iron-Chef proved that the third time is the charm.  But here's a tip...  
given that the Mexicans have won five years in a row, notice that the French Chefs rolled their
crepes to create the effect of the camouflaged burrito in hopes of fooling the crowd into that
burrito satisfaction state.  It didn't work, but you have to admire their unflagging effort.

                                                                          Here it is, the two winners from last year.
                                                                          On your left, Russ Ries the Ultimate who
                                                                          created a Shrimpy Grande, and below...

                                                                          Andy Zaharoff going over-the-top with a
                                                                          black truffle Cassoulet Crepe.














                                                                                  Going high was Dale's hibiscus treat






Black truffles, Caviar, like I said,
What is there not to like?
William did it up just the way we like !






                                                                  Marsha's great guacamole plus plus
                













                          And a sweet 'big apple' ending was provided by Marty

We apologize for not having all of the dishes pictured, but you know, the food was just too      
             exciting and the OOH was effervescing, and a few great ones just got away.
                                            




T h e   N e w   L e t t e r   i s . . .

C
C is for Cinco de Mayo.

                                                                                 Scroll down for the History
                                                                          and Current Winners

Hey Wine Club Members...
It's happening at Noon, May 5th, Saturday, 2012,
because
it's a
Delicious Battle !








Wine Club Members, make this date of
May 5th, Saturday, 2012
for the
Cinco de Mayo Re-enactment
to be held in conjunction with the

World's Sixth  -  Horseshoe Golf  -  Championship !

( See New Letter, W )

But back to Cinco de Mayo...
In an effort to re-invent war into a civilized pastime,
don't miss the most culturally correct conflict ever conceived.

We will elevate the re-enactment of the May 5th 1862, battle near Puebla Mexico...
when 4,000 Mexicans defended themselves from 8,000 Frenchmen.

Come cook or eat-judge-and-be-marry, or do both during the

The Iron Chef Cook-Off
of
French style  -v-  Mexican style
Crepes / Burritos
to Match
Pinot Noir !

( I think we are plowing new ground here. )

The day will unfold (crepes) and roll-up (burritos) like this:
Iron Chefs in the two categories, French and Mexican will compete among themselves.
All French Iron-Chefs will make their entries starting at 12:30.
This year will be different, in that everyone present will be a judge.
Therefore, each chef will have to make enough crepe or burrito such that
they can be cut into small slices and the crowd of around 20 to 30 can make
their judgement.  We will use the time-tested method of the clap-o-meter to determine
the winners.  After the French chefs go and one chef is chosen the winner, then the Mexican
chefs go and one is chosen as the Mexican Iron-Chef.

Then in Kitchen Stadium, the French and Mexican Iron-Chefs will square off...

But we get to enjoy this 'conflict' in the most civilized way, by all being fed.
Far better than being there on that fateful day, one hundred and fifty years ago.

The crowd claps to reveal their findings...
then, and only then, we will know the name of the

Cinco de Mayo Iron-Chef for 2012 !

The reigning chef will soak up wonderful prizes,
and gloat with his or her gargantuan glory.


All you have to do you see...   is to R.S.V.P.

707  933-4404
leave a message


THE
Fine Print  Finer Print  Finest Print

We will have some basic ingredients ready for you without seasoning.
Spices, herbs, and some sauces will be available.
You MAY bring secret ingredients (but be ready to divulge what they are).
You MAY also prepare secret ingredients on site (for example, seasoning the beans)
prior to your allotted time for the assemblage of the burrito.
French chefs can use the Mexican chef's ingredients, and vice versa.
You will have a reasonable amount of time to assemble and present your burritos for the group.

The judging crowd will be persuaded to come to their conclusions by considering
the following things, in this weighted order:

First - Really good match with the wine
Second - Total nutritional value
Third - Overall taste
Fourth - Presentation
Fifth - Any bribes or biases

( But remember, giving a group of judges instructions is sort of like herding cats...
so go for the Overall Taste. )

The decisions of the judges are not final.
You can appeal their decision by having everyone over to your house
for the most culturally correct grudge-match ever conceived.
However, (just like Santa Claus)
the awarding of the trophy only comes once a year,
that's final, and that's on Cinco de Mayo,
May 5th, Saturday, 2012.

For the French Chefs, we will have most of these on-hand:
Stewed white beans with carrots and onions
Leg of lamb roasted in the wood fired oven
Roasted whole chicken
Mustard
Cheeses
Parsley
Crepes
Garlic

For the Mexican Chefs, we will have most of these on-hand:
Whole cooked pinto beans
Whole cooked black beans
Stewed whole chicken
Tortillas
Peppers
Cheese


                                                                      
As Robin Rowe said -                                          
                                    What is there not to like?



























Our 2008 Winners, Walt and Krassimira                               







                                                    Walt won the Ultimate Iron-Chef again !         
                       
Yet another thinly veiled excuse to have fun!
The re-enactment of the Cinco de Mayo battle between
8,000 Frenchmen and 4,000 Mexicans, done up ala cuisine.
Be there for this re-invention of war.
Be part of history as we make violent conflict obsolete.
Rather, we stuff our stomachs instead of our plunder bags.
And there's nothing to get the hang of.
Enjoy history as it should have been.
2007 Winners

Emily
(French Iron-Chef)

and

Walt
(Mexican Iron-Chef &
Ultimate Iron-Chef)

These folks have just made everyone
that was in attendance winners by
cooking us such delicious food.

            Andy Zaharoff
            the French Iron-Chef

                 Russ Ries
           the Mexican Iron-Chef

And the 2009 Ultimate Iron-Chef is...

Russ Ries !
                            La Jolla rules

Plus!  Russ is our loyal and best photographer.
Every year the competition gets more intense, the crowd goes nuttier,
and the judges are harder pressed to call the winner.


The 2009 Winners !
Andy    and    Russ
As you can see this is quite the
victory because the judges do
such a thorough job as evidenced
by their notes.  In this case Mr.
Pat Moran, the esteemed
curator of the correspondence of
M.F.K Fisher.
So our dear Members of the Ahh Club

Clear your calendar, taste the treats,
and be at Kitchen Stadium

Saturday, May 5th 2012
at
High Noon

707 933-4404 RSVP
Mary Guerrazzi's delicious dish
We have Winners for
2010 !


The Winning French Chef

                                                         The returning French Iron-Chef from 2008
K r a s s i m i r a  K.  R e c t o r
Krassi fixed a fabulous and winning
crepe by starting with sauteing leeks
and making an omelet with smoked
salmon from the Farmer's Market,
dots of goat cheese, and fresh thyme.  
                                  Deeeelish
and Saaaaaaahtisfying
The Iron-Chefs of 2010  Krassi Rector and Gilberto Carmona the Ultimate
and the
Mexican
Chef
for
2010
G i l b e r t o   C a r m o n a


Presenting the

Ultimate
Iron-Chef
of
2010


Gilberto
Carmona
It's hard to beat authenticity, and
nobody could.  Gilberto's beautiful
burrito had a secret ingredient...  salmon
that was marinated overnight in orange
juice and oregano.  But not just any
oregano, it has to be Mexican oregano.

To your left is Mr. Carmona accepting
the Victory Necklace to become the
Mexican Iron-Chef and raising a glass of
OOH Sparkling Syrah to celebrate his
accomplishment.

Now at this point, many wonderful chefs
had created many wonderful crepes and
burritos, and the weather was just
getting too nice outdoors, Horseshoe
Golf was calling.  So instead of the two
Iron-Chefs going head-to-head, we
decided to speed up the process and had
everyone remember Krassi's memorable
crepe and we applied the Clap-O-Meter
to decide who would be the Ultimate
Iron-Chef.  And the winner was...
The mission was accomplished!  We have set a role model for all
armed conflict in the future.  The battle of Puebla Mexico should
have been this much fun.  We did end up with a victor (or in our case
a Gilbert) and our stomach were full.  We could all say Ooh and Ahh!
So if you were here in 2011, you knew who won,
and meanwhile the pictures are still showing up.
But Krassi, Andy, and Gilberto did really well !

And the Tequila Girls behaved themselves, kinda...
.

Well time has passed,
and because Russ and Marty were not on
photographic duty for 2011,
we are a little light on the documentation of history.

So onto 2012 with glee !