iron chef australia audience!

Well, my dream came true today. For the first time in my life, I am watching Iron Chef LIVE on stage! Ive been watching Iron Chef on tv and the internet since couple years back when they started airing it on Food Network ASTRO. I fell in love with the intensity and blood rushing 1 hour competition immediately. Seeing how awesome chefs can be when it comes to creativity with food really amazes me. Probably that's the reason why I am a chef today. hahaha. 

So i bet everyone has heard about Iron Chef from Japan. The culinary giants Iron Chefs, Chen Kenichi, Masaharu Morimoto and Hiroyuki Sakai. They battle out in kitchen stadium where challengers from all around the world will come challenge the Iron Chef to a secret ingredient 1 hour battle to produce 4 dishes or more. Iron Chef then moved to America a couple years back, but unfortunately ratings are not as high as the original one in Japan. 

September 2010, Iron Chef comes to Australia and chooses Melbourne as their shooting spot. A gigantic studio in Docklands to start off with. With local culinary giants, Iron Chef Australia has chosen Neil Perry, Guy Grossi and Guillaume Brahimi to be the Iron Chefs! They are the giants in Australia, with top chef hat restaurants. For more information about them, check out my older post about Iron Chef Australia. 

So, today at 3pm me and my friends, Jeremy and Conan walked into the studio where the kitchen stadium was proudly standing in the middle of the stage. It was just an absolute treat to be there at that time! We were so excited! With a couple of camera shootings and NG's, the competition hit start right about 6pm and ended at 7pm. One hour of blood rushing excitement just can't get any better. Today's secret ingredient was chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. Hahaha. 

We were all guessing cheese at first before it was revealed. Hahahha turned out to be the direct opposite. With fountains of chocolate flowing from the choc fountain, giant blocks of chocolate, cocoa beans, cocoa powders and nibs, it was a treat for every chocolate lover out there! Not for me though.. not a big fan of chocolate. Heheh. 

We were also very surprised to see the Chairman Mark Dacascos, who runs the Iron Chef America show. He is so hilarious and good looking in a way. So great to see him there today! "With the words of my uncle .. Ala Cuisine!" - was his famous quote to set the competition off. Hahaha. 

So i had an awesome day today, eye opening and memorable experience! This would be one of my best birthday gift ever! Though its free.. ahhahaha. Cheers!

junior masterchef 2010

The Masterchef show is back in Australia ! And this time, it gets bigger! but in a smaller way. Forget about Adam or Callum, or Marion. We are now looking at small people with big dreams! Yes. We are looking at young talented chefs aging from 8 - 12 from all over Australia competing for the Junior Masterchef title. This kids are just amazing to watch, and it makes the adults a run for their money. You won't be expecting kids food, home cooked food. The kids will amaze you with wow'ing dishes!

Look at them. All young and cute, and who will expect these kids to be cooking in the kitchen. I still remember the days when i was still a kid like them. My grandma will shoo me away whenever im in the kitchen with her. "Don't come here! Go watch tv!" Hahaha. Good old times.

I am quite sad for missing the show which aired tonight on tv. Can't wait to watch it online later on!

I am really looking forward to a great Masterchef season. Oh wait! Junior Masterchef corrected. Hahaha. I hope that one day my kid will be like one of em. Will post up more on the show later on!

healthy eating, smart thinking!

Mums, dads, friends, and family can help children eat healthily!

• Ensure a good intake of essential nutrients by encouraging kids to eat a variety of nutritious foods. 
• Plan ahead and shop for healthy foods. If the pantry doesn't have a lot of junk food in it, it's must easier to limit their treat intake. 
• Always take your own nutritious snacks to school or sporting events. Easy to prepare and healthy munchie ideas include rice crackers, carrot and celery sticks, and pieces of fruits. Sustagen has substantial levels of energy, protein and essential vitamins and minerals. 
• When it comes to cookie time, make sure kids have a glass of milk with it.
• Choose wholegrain foods whenever possible.
• Make sure your kids have breakfast everyday, especially if they have morning sport.
• To encourage your child to drink water, try freezing it in bottles for school lunches and sports, specially during summer. 

mozzarella & caramelised onion risotto cakes

Recipe:


2 tbsp                           olive oil
2                                  onions, halved & sliced
1 tbsp                           brown sugar
1 tbsp                           balsamic vinegar
1 cup                            arborio rice (risotto rice)
2 1/2 cups                    chicken stock
25 gm                           butter
1 cup                            grated parmesan
100 gm                         mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes


Method:

1. Heat half the oil in a medium frying pan on low. Cook onion for 15 minutes, covered or until very soft. Add sugar and vinegar and stir until combined. Cook for 5 minutes, until onion is caramelised. 
2. Heat remaining oil in a large saucepan on high heat. Add rice and cook for 1 minute. Add all but 1/4 cup of hot chicken stock, stir and simmer on low heat covered for 12-15 minutes. 
3. Remove from heat, add remaining stock with butter, 3/4 cup of parmesan and caramelised onion and stir to combine. 
4. Transfer to a container and keep refrigerated overnight.
5. Preheat oven to 200'c or 180'c fan. Grease a 24-hole mini-muffin pan. 
6. Roll 1 tbsp of risotto into a ball. Using your index finger, press a hold in the center and fill it with a piece of mozzarella cheese. 
7. Carefully roll ball to enclose. Add more mixture if needed. Repeat with remaining risotto and cheese. Sprinkle remaining parmesan over risotto balls. 
8. Bake for 20 minutes or until firm and golden. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, and run a small round-bladed knife around the edge of cakes to loosen before removing from pan. Serve warm.

did you know??

Did you know??

Your morning bowl of cereal can save your life! According to findings from Go Grains Health & Nutrition, recent research has shown that if you eat two to three serves of wholegrains a day, you reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, certain cancers and obesity by a whopping 20 to 30 percent. The amazing wholegrains are also thought to be as effective as drugs in reducing the risk of heart disease. Research indicates that munching two to four serves a day can reduce your risk by about 40 percent. So, it's as simple as having wholegrain cereal in the morning, a wholegrain roll for lunch, a muesli bar as a snack and a wholemeal pasta or brown rice with your dinner. :-) Stay healthy!

pancakes with banana & lime caramel

I've always been a fan of pancakes no matter what flavour it has in it. Pancakes are so easy to make and it goes so well with fruits, especially my all time favourite bananas. With a spoonful of whipped cream and some caramel over the top, nothing gets better. I still recall once having this really really big, i mean BIG pancake in America. It was my breakfast before heading to Atlanta. Pancakes with banana, caramel and raisins. Oh my gawd.. it was the best pancake ever! No one does it better than the Americans. No wonder their obesity rate is sky rocketing every year. :-)

Recipe:

2 tbsp                            shredded coconut

350 gm                          pancake mix (any brand would do)

75 gm                            butter

1/2 cup                          brown sugar

1/3 cup                          lime juice

3 large                           bananas

Method:

1. Place coconut in a dry frying pan and cook, stirring over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or until lightly golden. Transfer to a plate to cool. (this method brings out the toasty flavour of the coconut)
2. Make pancake batter according to packet instructions. In a lightly greased frying pan, cook 1/4 cupfuls of the batter for 1-2 minutes each side or until golden brown. Set aside. 
3. Melt butter in a frying pan, add sugar and lime juice. Stir over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, or until smooth and thickened slightly. Add bananas and toss to coat. 
4. Serve pancakes with bananas and lime caramel, sprinkled with toasted coconut.