Sunday, May 26, 2013

Morimoto Vs. Garces - Iron Chef America Tournament of Champions

Garces Vs. Morimoto Iron Chef Battle
Photo - Food Network
The second semi-final battle of Iron Chef America: Tournament of Champions had Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto facing Iron Chef Jose Garces, where the secret ingredient was liver.  Jose Garces defeated Marc Forgione to get here, while Masahuru Morimoto had a bye. 

With the new format of Iron Chef America, Chef Garces was ahead by 2 after the first dish for receiving a 14 for his first dish, while Chef Morimoto received a 12.  The culinary curveball was then announced, in which the chefs had to incorporate a juicer into at least one of their dishes.

After the judges scored all of the dishes, Jose Garces received a total of 79 points (first dish, taste, culinary curveball, originality, plating), while Masaharu Morimoto received 75 points.  This meant Jose Garces was the winner of battle liver, and I would consider this the first upset of the Iron Chef tournament.

Jose Garces will now compete against Michael Symon (who defeated Zakarian in the other semi-final) in the final battle.  The winner of that battle will be the Champion of Iron Chef America Tournament of Champions.

11 comments:

  1. I still can't believe Garces defeated Morimoto. Regardless, Symon will clean his clock. I will admit that I wasn't a huge Michael Symon fan at first but he's won me over. He is a speed cooking machine who can think on the fly.

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  2. Given Morimoto-San's reaction to the secret ingredient, the result wasn't a total shock. However, I agree with MollyMac that Symon will probably win easily.

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  3. Cannot believe Garces won. Now will he beat Symon. This will be interesting. May the best chef win.

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  4. Wish Bobby flay was participating.

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  5. Garces is the only Iron Chef that I have seen get a perfect score. I'm not the least surprised that he beat Morimoto, although had I been betting, would have bet on the Japanese master. Garces might take it all. Just a comment about last week with Zakarian and Symon - maybe if he didn't drink while cooking her could win. He said he wouldn't have done anything different, well, that swig of whatever he took might have changed things. Who knows. Great contest last night though -what I saw of it.

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  6. Behold a twist in the script, the must have been watching Lost on Netflix.

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  7. Yeah I believe many still underestimate Garces, he delivers some unexpected dishes that sometimes are his risky downfalls but I personally believe he's the one handling the new format the best because he knows both the 1st dish feature and culinary curveball are actually huge factors, he did well in both while i felt Morimoto kind of let it by simply and in the end I was satisfied with Garces winning.. plus im intrigued that Jessica Mogardo is one of his sous chefs (and his dessert/pastry specialist) because i remember her as that nervous winner of Chopped a long time ago and its interesting shes grown so much as a chef since then.

    I like this match up ... a lot have their bets on Symon who I agree is quite impressive and has a personality, but I always love an underdog and the biggest mistake competetors can make is underestimating anyone. Garces may just pull the upset.

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  8. Cynthia Hicks CarterMay 29, 2013 at 9:08 PM

    no, Zakarian and Morimoto have both received perfect scores along with Garces.

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  9. Hi, I said he's the only one I have seen - I don't watch the show regularly. LOL. Sorry I wasn't more clear. Not surprised about Morimoto or Zacharian, to be honest. I was a big fan of Zacharian's until he did the bankruptcy thing when the Iron Chef competition was going on - hurt a lot of his employees. Also heard he's a real b*astard, but that might come with the territory, I don't know. Disappointing because I was really rooting for him in that competition. With Garces and Symon, it's a tough call because I like both of them - think Garces might take it home.

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  10. wow, people treating this as a competition? About as real as professional wrestling.

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  11. Garces has to win. He is a msssive competitor! . I love this very gifted and lovely chef.

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