Watch Iron Chef this week!

Of course you want to! I'm one of the judges! Next to me on the panel was Jeffrey Steingarten! I've had a (food writer) crush on Jeffrey Steingarten since I was a geeky grad student in San Diego!! Can I use any more exclamation marks on this one post!?! Evidently!!!

It's Iron Chef Morimoto vs. Tyson Cole. This Sunday night at 10PM.

I can't possibly say one more word about this because I might let the secret out!

Oh, wait, actually I am kind of good at not letting the proverbial cat out of the bag. When I went to New York to film two episodes(!) of Iron Chef last summer, I literally tripped over the giant portrait of the Next Iron Chef winner, and that was September, before the first episode of the show even aired. I never let on that I knew who won it, did I? Did I?

P.S. The picture above was shamelessly swiped from Louisa's blog. Thanks dahling.

Comments

[veron]

Pim - have you ventured into the dark side of the food network? Just for you, I will watch Iron Chef ;).
I was in a Harold Mc Gee class at the FCI in New york when I saw Jeffrey Steingarten talking to Harold. I was so transfixed , I couldn't even say "OMG it's Jeffrey Steingarten".

[kayenne]

HEEEEY!!! That's soooooo cool!!! and you get to eat all the yummy stuff! will you be writing (and dissecting!)about it here? please do!!!

[Stephane]

You're living the dream! I'm also a fan of Steingarten, I hope you were finally able to "out snide" him, as you put it. I'll be watching!

[cib]

I'm so excited and happy for you! How much fun must that have been? I will be watching too!

[anticiplate]

Wow! Impressive. I will have to watch!!!

[Jo]

Hey that is awesome! I am so ENVIOUS! Have a great time!

[eatingplum]

I haven't watched Iron Chef in a long time but because of you I now will! I LOVE Steingarten's books--that is so so awesome you will be a judge alongside with him. *Jealous*

[Arnold]

ICA is like the only thing left on the Food Network that's worth watching. So cool you got to be a judge. And since Steingarten was there, I hope there was bacon involved... :)

[chris]

Awesome, will have to check it out

[matt k.]

Pim! you're so lucky, my dream is to be a guest judge on Iron Chef.

[cindyloumn]

I am SOO jealous!! I love that show! I can't wait to hear the scoop on your experience on it!!!
Do you happen to watch Top Chef?? LOVE that show also!

[Kalle]

I am way too envious to leave a comment.

[swirlingnotions]

How fun! I hope I can get it streamed . . .

[iron stef]

Oh how exciting!!! And Morimoto? He's my favorite! I'll be tuning in.

[Pim]

Thank you everyone. It was indeed quite awesome. I had a blast, and Jeffrey was *all that* and more! I'll say more about it after this one airs.

[witwala carlson]

I've been waiting for this episode a while. I'm a fan of Tyson Cole and his Uchi restaurant here in Austin.And,of course,a big fan of you!!

[keiko]

I wish I could watch the episode here in the UK! Love the new banner Pim, you look so lovely! kx

[Chris]

Hi Pim,

I checked around to see if anyone had told you, so not sure if you know. You are No. 18.
Wow. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/mar/09/blogs

[Rasa Malaysia]

ZOMG, you weren't joking in one of your old posts saying that you were going to be on the judging table one day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bow down to you, Pim, bow1, bow2, bow3!!!!!!!!!!!!! You're the QUEEN of food blogs. I think this is WAY WAY WAY cooler than landing on a book deal or whaterver (in my opinion). You rule and you're my idol!

[Babeth]

too bad we don't have that show here in France. But I will check for part of it on internet ;-)
Happy Easter!

[cath]

YAY Pim! There you are on TV! And you're RIGHT NEXT to Jeffrey!? This could not be cooler.

[Louisa Chu]

Watching your episode right now! Congratulations! You look fantastic! (That my photo is worthy to be swiped by you, anytime my dear. :)

[DJ ELITE]

you ROCK, pim! :O)

[Katsu]

Definitely an awesome episode! The ingredient is definitely my total favorite, too.

[SamanthaF]

Hey Pim, is there a playback on the net for this anywhere?

[anonymous]

Hey Pim-- watched you yesterday. It was very cool that you got to judge and be there. I thought that your comments seems very valid though I was disappointed in the dishes that were created by the challenger. Ginger is such a versatile ingredient that I guess I expected more from them then what I saw. (Maybe they were concerned that it would be too overwhelming and held back?). Anyway-- even cooler is judging w/ the all time Iron Chef but less cool (and I can't believe that you have a twisted crush on him) is being next to Jeffrey. (Explain to me why you have a crush on this man? And I'm not referring to anything about his physical appearance but just his personality......... yikes!)

[Cara]

Iron Chef forever! Great post Pim.
See you on Bastille Day, non, for our food panel? I'm thrilled but my detective, Aimee Leduc, doesn't cook. Counting on you to have some tips for her ie Fauchon take out and how to heat it up

[EB]

Battle Ginger was definitely made all the more fabulous by your presence! I want to hear all about your experience!

[kenito799]

Great to see you on Iron Chef! I can't wait to hear more about the food and the experience. What a treat to have a full course in ginger study prepared just for you by Morimoto. I was particularly intrigued by your comment about too much galangal in his soup...please expand that discussion! I was a bit surprised that they even included galangal. There must be many other members of the ginger family, why single out that particular distinct and distant cousin?

[Nancy Liedel - The Goat Rodeo]

I am just watching it now. "Oh my God, It's PIM! I read her blog every day."

Sounded like an idiot. Nothing new.

[jenn]

You were fabulous!! But I thought Jeffrey was anything but sweet. He may be a food god, but could he please wipe that smirk off his face? Ick. And I love ginger. What a fabulous ingredient....

[Pim]

Thanks everyone. Iron Chef is campy as can be, but--or hence--a whole lot of fun!

@Sam, the episode is not online, unless, of course, someone put it on Youtube....but so far I haven't seen anything.

@Bee, my sweet, thanks for the bows....didn't you know I have a book deal too? ;-)

@anonymous, ginger was a great ingredient. Both the chefs did a great job with the food. I would be happy eating a whole meal of either of the chefs' preparations. The only thing that the challenger didn't do well enough was highlighting the ginger. He was perhaps just a tad too subtle, but his food was really quite delicious (and gorgeous too.)

As for my "crush" on Jeffrey, how could you be a proper foodie and not have a crush on Jeffrey Steingarten? He tells the best stories, has exquisite taste, and is ever so captivatingly obsessed with finding the perfect meal. I don't mind the curmudgeon shell. In fact, I aspire to grow up to be one myself.

[Dee]

Hi Pim, I saw the episode and I told my DH I read her blogs! Can't believe Jeffrey was looking at your notes and making comments on them! Looks like you had a wonderful time there =) So jealous.....

[Allen]

I caught the last half of the show, but witnessed the judging -- you were great! Were you able to talk with either the chefs or judges before/after the taping?

[Hillary]

SO exciting! Congrats on being asked to be a judge!

[Rasa Malaysia]

Of course I know about your book deal. I think you are going to be the Asian (and female) version of Tony Bordain (did I spell his name right?). Anyway, remember I can be your little assistant when you get there OK? Hehe.

Anyway, what I meant was it's not too hard to get a book deal and many bloggers have book deals, but to get on Iron Chef and be a judge, that's really something. ;)

[peabody]

I watched and though holy cow...she's a food blogger. Shows you how far the world of food blogging has come.

[Lys]

Pim - I have to say, I do watch ICA on occasion and find Morimoto to be endearing when he gets going (and genius as well!). When I saw that you were a Food Blogger - heck, I knew I had to find the blog. And I'm SO glad I did. I think this is going to be on my daily "must read" list. Much congrats!!

[Nan]

Holy crap, I saw you on there and was like "I actually know the "food blogger" they're including as a judge this time!" I bet it was amazing to be up close to Alton Brown and Jeffrey Steingarten...

[bee]

I am so jealous you got to eat all those yummy food! They looked so good.

[prayer]

oh pim, you went to grad school in sd?!? and look where life has taken you!

[susan]

hi pim, i just saw you on iron chef! that's awesome. congrats! :)

[courtney]

wow, i had no idea! but i've already got the episode being mailed to me, as i'm outside the realm of american iron chef, because i've got to watch austin chef tyson cole, what a surprise to watch you judge, too!
courtney @ the dough ball

[katy]

I saw you on Iron Chef when I was at the gym yesterday!!!! I seriously almost shrieked when I saw your name in the caption! VERY very cool -- and it looked like a great ginger-ful meal!!!

[Erin]

I finally caught you on Iron Chef yesterday, very exciting. The interplay between you and Jeffrey was amusing, definitely a pairing that should be repeated.

[Brigid]

One of the many things I liked about the episode: your on screen title read simply, "Pim." One name! Such a rock star!

[norm]

I to was like - damn that's Pim! My wife kept asking me how I knew you....

So what I want to know Pim is how much of a secret is the secret ingredient? Given the Iron Chef had ginger infused sake that no one had ever heard of or realized was available, I'm finding in hard to believe he just had that "in the cupboard". Do they get a hint a couple days prior?

I'm also suspecting that the menu is prepared in advance my the chefs since their helpers seem to go off on their own without even a word.

Do they get the type of food group prior and then just run with it when they find out the exact item? Details please!

[Katie]

I think you earned yourself a couple new fans with this entry...beautiful and inspiring! Merci...Khawp khun kha!

[Peejay]

i wonder when we'll get to watch this episode here in the philippines.