Who Will Be The Next Iron Chef? My Money's On Holly Smith

Did you catch the season premiere of Food Network's hit show, The Next Iron Chef?

I got to watch it with one of the contestants!

Holly Smith, winner of the 2008 James Beard Foundation Award for best chef in the Pacific Northwest, had a party at her wonderful Cafe Juanita Sunday night. There were three big screens set up around the dining room and guests nibbled on an all-star lineup of passed apps: Seared Foie Gras Brioche with Candied Ginger, Cocoa Nibs and Huckleberries, Grilled Octopus Chickpea Bruschetta, House-Smoked Trout on Pumpernickle Crostini, Italian White Anchovies with Salsa Verde and Ciccoli Sliders, which were like chicken-fried pulled pork. Oh my goodness, that was some fantastic finger food! The savory snacks were perfectly paired with Mark Ryan Viognier.

While waiting for the big show to start, chef Holly filled us in on some behind-the-scenes scoop. The biggest bomb was that the flight the East Coast chefs arrived on lost power in one engine and nearly had to make an emergency landing in Death Valley.

After the 90-minute debut, during which she tackled jellyfish as her slippery secret ingredient and "survived to cook another day", I asked Smith how she had been cast. "They called me," she said. Bravo!

Cafe Juanita is one of just two restaurants I gave four stars to while I was reviewing for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, so I wasn't surprised to learn that she had been recognized as a possible Iron Chef. Stay tuned to see how she fares. Or do you want to predict a winner?

-- Leslie Kelly

Comments

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