Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali take on Bobby Flay and White House Chef Cristeta Comerford in a Food Network challenge. Obama’s White House garden will provide all the ingredients necessary for tonight’s challenge.
Iron Chef America went to the White House and was welcomed by the first lady Michelle Obama. Obama allowed to use anything found in the White House vegetable garden to create their meals! The two-hour season premier of Iron Chef America airs Sunday at 8 p.m.
The chefs – Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse and Bobby Flay, plus Cristeta Comerford (White House Executive Chef) – then return to The Food Network’s Kitchen Stadium in New York, where Flay and Comerford face off against Batali and Lagasse, each team producing five dishes showcasing the ingredients.
The judges include cookbook author and chef Nigella Lawson, Olympic gold medal swimmer Natalie Coughlin and actress Jane Seymour.
Chef Cristeta Comerford’s new recipe for Broccoli Soup is a flavorful dish that’s perfect for a winter warm up, and part of the ongoing program of focusing on seasonal and healthier foods at the White House.
Regarded as an extraordinary culinary talent, Comerford has worked at the Executive Mansion for fourteen years, and is now on her third presidential administration. First Lady Michelle Obama re-appointed Comerford as executive chef in January, and Comerford notes that she’s been newly inspired by Mrs. Obama, whose focus on local, fresh and seasonal foods has transformed the cooking practices at the White House. Comerford says that she’s even planted a vegetable garden at her own home in Maryland, thanks to the influence of Mrs. Obama’s Kitchen Garden, which Comerford visits regularly.
