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Post by Arrianna on Aug 25, 2006 18:20:51 GMT -5
Doc Hattori: Thank you very much, I will remember that next time.
Post----------------------------------------------- Main course: Deep fried Pork Balls with a Concord Grape Chili sauce made with fresh Lemons. The use of crushed ice, which dissolves in the first stage of cooking, results in a light and fluffy texture to the Pork Balls in contrast to their crisp exterior. The rich and spicy sweet and sour sauce sets both off to perfection. The dish is served on a white, square, plate with the sauce in a small cup for dipping and the pork balls arranged artfully in a half circle to the side. Endpost------------------------------------------
Doc Hattori: This next dish is from Thailand. They use crushed ice mixed in the minced pork in order to make a very light and fluffy texture in spite of using only seasoned meat.
I wanted to make at least one dish from Asia to show how grapes could be sucessfully adapted to asian cuisine. I choose concord grapes because they have a full bodied flavor that could stand up to a sweet and sour preparation.
Of course there are some hot Thai chili's in the sauce as Chai Lam-san guessed but just enough to add spice and not to overwelm.
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Post by Man Alive! on Aug 25, 2006 18:36:42 GMT -5
Kaga: Wong-san, what do you think of this dish?
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Post by Sanji Himura on Aug 25, 2006 22:26:09 GMT -5
[The following is a transcript of Himura's reaction during Hattori's presentation to this point]
[Setting: Himura's dressing room]
*notices my wife entering the room* I want to be serious about something.
Wife: Sure, what?
How did I do, really?
Wife: You put your heart and soul into your dishes in both battles. Although I will admit that your little showboating episode with Kobe hurt you more than you think.
Do you think that I have what it takes to beat Hattori?
Wife: Know this, if Hattori somehow beats you, then you have every right to do what you are thinking about.
What? Project Gambit?
Wife: Yes, that one. I seriously don't know what you have against Chairman Kaga anyway.
It's this whole concept. Kaga's tasters gets recycled week after week and for what? Those 3 star chefs who do visit have nothing to show for it.
Wife: Yes, but what free publicity...
Publicity? They have nothing. I bet you that I can find a four or even a five star chef and he can put down one of these Iron Chefs easily just as I have.
Wife: Good point. Even if the judges score it differently, your dishes are perfect in my book. Now that is out of the way, what do you want for dinner?
Know that new place a few blocks from here...
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Post by achen on Aug 25, 2006 23:47:14 GMT -5
Chai Lam: This is a great dish. It is the best one today. The sauce is a wonderful combination of sweet and hot. I just wish I could have another helping. The meatballs are light and crispy, but have a great meaty texture. This dish is even more asian because it is almost perfected in ying and yang. If the meatballs made a perfect circle it would have been perfect ying and yang on the square dish. The plating is very nice to that effect.
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Post by missteetheironchef on Aug 26, 2006 11:03:10 GMT -5
Kateyama: The texture is so inspiring. What a creative way begin a main course. I went to Thailand recently and their cuisine is soo inspiring. I love this dish.
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Post by allezcuisine on Aug 26, 2006 12:01:34 GMT -5
Kishi: This dish is my favorite so far. The sauce is out of this world. Awesome dish, Hattori-san.
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Post by mickster on Aug 26, 2006 12:01:37 GMT -5
Wong-san - This is a very good dish. I can see how the ice helped make the pork balls fluffy, very good job with this dish, and I think the sauce is wonderful. I like the crispy outside of the pork balls, too. This is my favorite dish of all.
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Post by Arrianna on Aug 26, 2006 15:54:30 GMT -5
Doc Hattori: Thank you. *bows*
Post------------------------------ Dessert: Assorted Sugared Frozen Grapes. Three types of seedless grapes dipped in cooking Wine and rolled in granulated Sugar. Freezing the grapes results in a creamy texture and enhances their natural sweetness. The lightness of the wine with it’s slight saltiness assists in bringing out the flavor. The sugar coating makes a dish as beautiful as it is delicious while adding another texture to please the judges. Served on top of grape leaves the frozen grapes make a refreshing ending to any meal. Endpost-------------------------
Doc Hattori: Sometimes the simplest preperation is the best. In this case the only preparation is sugering the grapes before freezing to add a crisp texture to the outside in contrast to the creamy interior.
Please enjoy.
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Post by mickster on Aug 26, 2006 16:06:56 GMT -5
Wong-san - Oh this is so pretty. It is pretty enough to put in my house as a knick knack. I'm not sure I like the idea that the grapes are so frozen. The taste is very good but the grape is not comfortable in my mouth. I have to roll it around in my mouth a bit to get it warm enough to melt so I can bite into it.
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Post by Arrianna on Aug 26, 2006 16:38:51 GMT -5
Post-------------------------- No offense Mickster but I take it you have never had frozen grapes? Because they don't become hard and don't need to be melted. Here: Better Than Sex? (<-For a description of what it is like.) "Oh. My. These are quite something, aren’t they? Their lush little insides do attain a nearly creamy consistency when frozen. And the sweetness is magnified—I tasted a non-frozen grape for comparison, and the frosty one was markedly closer to candy. Who knew?" (Just thought I better clear that up.)Endpost---------------------
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Post by achen on Aug 26, 2006 17:15:07 GMT -5
Chai Lam: This is a very unusual dish. This dish is dwarfed by the greatness of the dish. The grapes are nicely frozen but this dish is just too simple. The frozen wine and sugar don’t add anything to this dish. It is very nicely plated but is just okay to eat. Himura’s dishes were modified traditional dishes. There was much strength in them. Hattori’s dishes were very western. He also had his strength. Today’s best dish would have to be Hattori’s meatballs. I would like to have them again sometime.
*Rubbing his chin while writing.*
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Post by mickster on Aug 26, 2006 19:32:45 GMT -5
Post... I guess I'll have to give the frozen grapes a try, if they are better than ice cream. I don't think anything could be better than ice cream, cough, but I'll try them. Thanks Arrianna. End...
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Post by Arrianna on Aug 26, 2006 20:08:13 GMT -5
Post------------------- You're welcome. I'm not sure I would say they're better then ice cream but I was surprised when my aunt gave me some. I expected them to be frozen nuggets as well. Endpost--------------
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Post by Man Alive! on Aug 27, 2006 16:31:47 GMT -5
Kaga: These are delicious. I've never had anything like them before.
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Post by Arrianna on Aug 27, 2006 18:02:15 GMT -5
Doc Hattori: Thank you Kaga-san. *bows*
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