#FIRSTLOOK: “IRON CHEF: QUEST FOR AN IRON LEGEND”

Just released this past weekend, IRON CHEF: QUEST FOR AN IRON LEGEND is Competition Television at its finest! We loved IRON CHEF, but in all honesty, haven’t watched it in years. This latest installment in the Franchise pits new up-an-coming Chefs against five esteemed and accomplished Iron Chefs:

Curtis Stone
Marcus Samuelsson
Dominique Crenn
Gabriela Cámara
Ming Tsai

And is it ever thrilling! New secret ingredients, true to form, are revealed every episode and the one up-and-coming Chef is pit against one Iron Chef to make a multi-course meal for our panel of judges. The results are breathtaking, craveworthy and drool-inducing. More than ever before we get an inclusive Cast and the real touching stories behind these Chefs and their passion for food. The Challenger is up to win the title of IRON LEGEND, a first of its kind, and wins the Golden Knife!

The Competition culminates in the most successful Challenger going up against ALL FIVE Iron Chefs. Mindblowingly-good. I need a second season. Next time I visit New York, I must try Challenger Esther Choi‘s MOKBAR after seeing her amazing Kimchify-ing of her food! Instant fan.

Really love the thoughtful adjudication by our panel of Judges including Nilou Motamed and Andrew Zimmern, plus one new special guest on each episode! Hosts Kristen Kish and Alton Brown also deliver some smart commentary and banter that make this such a joyful watch.

All eight episodes of IRON CHEF: QUEST FOR AN IRON LEGEND are out now on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FOOD: FOOD NETWORK CANADA ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY 2013 LINEUP!

We could all use some inspiration this Holiday Season, right Canada?  FOOD Network Canada has announced over 360 hours of Holiday Programming kicking-off Monday, November 25, 2013!

Among the star-studded Lineup include Holiday Editions of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Rachel Ray’s Week in a Day, Trisha’s Southern Kitchen, Iron Chef America, The Pioneer Woman, plus Specials from Gordon Ramsay, Giada De Laurentiis, Lynn Crawford and John Catucci!

 

Food Factory: The House That Santa Built

Monday, November 25 at 11pm ET/8pm PT

Encore Presentation Wednesday, December 4 at 9pm ET/6pm PT

Food Factory rings in the holiday season with the story behind some of our favourite Christmas treats. Viewers will discover how Santa’s little helpers assemble four million gingerbread houses every year, how Christmas elves use 11,000 litres of spirits in their boozy nutty fruitcake, how 2,000 Belgian chocolate Santas are handmade in the lead up to Christmas, and how 125,000 litres of eggnog are pumped out in time for the holidays.

Food Factory: Yule Love This

Monday, November 25 at 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT

Encore Presentation Wednesday, December 4 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT

Food Factory unwraps the story behind some of our favourite seasonal sweets. Find out how 20,000 yule logs are hand rolled and decorated every season, how wildberry candy canes get their signature shape thanks to robotic elves, how a Scottish cookie factory bakes 20,000,000 shortbread cookies every week, and how 20,000 slabs of minty holiday bark are produced every day.

You Gotta Eat Here! – Happy Hollandaise

Friday, November 29 at 9pm ET/6pm PT

Encore Presentation Friday, December 13 at 9pm ET/6pm PT

’Tis the season to be jolly and You Gotta Eat Here! host John Catucci is trying hard not to let his hunger get the best of his Christmas spirit. So, if the perfect way to spread holiday cheer is by singing loud for all to hear, John’s doing his part and revisiting some of his favourite chefs and restaurants from the show. He’s spreading joy and even more hollandaise at Shine in Victoria, BC, telling everyone to forget the sugar plums and imagine a double decker sandwich dancing in their heads at The Early Bird in London, ON, and there’s nowhere else you should go for a warm, Caribbean style Christmas pudding than way up north at Antoinette’s in Whitehorse, YK.

You Gotta Eat Here! – Season’s Eatings

Friday, November 29 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT

Encore Presentation Friday, December 13 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT

It’s Christmas time and in the spirit of the season, You Gotta Eat Here! host John Catucci is giving a lot more than he is receiving. From Santa’s lap, to a visit with the elves in the ‘North Pole’, John travels the country and revisits old friends from the show in their restaurants so he can share in how they cook up the most special of Christmas meals. John serves a heaping of festive treats at Jelly Modern Doughnuts in Calgary, AB, learns that where there’s fresh seafood, there’s more than one way to stuff a turkey at Saint John Alehouse, NB, and enjoys a real Italian Christmas with a traditional Tiramisu and Chocolate Salami for dessert at That Little Place By The Lights in Huntsville, ON.

A Pitchin’ In Christmas

Monday, December 2 at 11pm ET/8pm PT

Encore Presentation Wednesday, December 11 at 9pm ET/6pm PT

Chef Lynn is nuts about Christmas and this holiday season she’s decking the halls to the nines and whipping up an unforgettable Christmas feast! On the guest list is none other than her extended family made up of a few of her Pitchin’ In friends. They’ll all be bringing some of her favourite ingredients to cook with from heritage turkey, leg of Canadian lamb, to Vidalia onion cornbread all the way from Georgia. Be prepared to raise a glass of good cheer, laugh out loud at Chef Lynn’s zany shenanigans and enjoy all the warmth and magic the season has to offer.

Chopped: Celebrity Holiday Bash

Tuesday, December 3 at 10pm ET/7pm PT

Encore Presentation Saturday, December 7 at 9pm ET/6pm PT

Actress Terry Hatcher, Anthony Anderson, Antonio Sabato, Jr. and Gilligan Island’s Dawn Wells compete in the Chopped kitchen for their favourite charity. The party begins with sparkling cider and doughnuts in the first mystery basket. Wagyu steaks are served up for the entree round and the final moments of the competition are filled with drama and suspense as the competitors rush to get their plum pudding desserts plated.

Gordon Ramsay’s Christmas Cookalong Special

Thursday, December 5 at 9pm ET/6pm PT

Encore Presentation Sunday, December 8 at 6pm ET/3pm PT

Gordon invites families to cook together in a Christmas cookalong special featuring a three-course festive feast of turkey with pork, porcini and sage stuffing; Madeira gravy; clementine carrots with freshly grated nutmeg; Brussels sprouts with chilli, lemon, garlic and toasted hazelnuts; and the perfect goose fat roast potatoes with garlic and rosemary. Plus, Gordon serves up a delicious starter of parsnip and pea soup with a walnut pesto, and a show-stopping ice cream snowball for pudding.

Rachael Ray’s Week in a Day: Season’s Serving

Wednesday, December 11 at 6pm ET/3pm PT

Encore Presentation Saturday, December 21 at 11am ET/8am PT

Rachael shows viewers how to feed hungry friends and family with five holiday worthy meals that can be made in just one day: Ruby Port Braised Short Ribs and Mashed Potatoes, Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Roast With Fennel and Golden Raisin Stuffing, Pastitsio With Lamb and Sausage, Winter White Coq Au Vin, and Risotto Timbale.

Iron Chef America: Ghosts of Holiday Ingredients Past

Thursday, December 12 at 10pm ET/PT

Encore Presentation Saturday, December 14 at 9pm ET/9:30pm PT

The Chairman unwraps his traditional holiday feast with a new first for Kitchen Stadium. Three teams featuring one Iron Chef and one celebrity Cooking Channel chef must cook with the most feared ingredients from previous holiday battles, in a battle of “Ghosts of Holiday Ingredients Past.” Competing chefs include: Iron Chef Michael Symon & Ching-He Huang; Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto & Gerry “G.” Garvin; and Iron Chef Jose Garces & Bobby Deen.

The Pioneer Woman: Christmas Special

Friday, December 13 at 6pm ET/3pm PT

Encore Presentation Saturday, December 14 at 9am ET/6pm PT

Christmas is coming and it’s a big day on the Pioneer Woman ranch. It’s all about festive food, fun and family traditions. Host Ree Drummond celebrates the holidays by cooking up divine Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas gifts, and her little elves, the kids, are on delivery duty. Then the Drummonds hit the town for the annual Christmas parade of lights before heading back to the ranch for a fabulous feast of Prime Rib with Rosemary Salt Crust, elegant Duchess Potatoes, nine-hour Burgundy Mushrooms and scrumptious Whiskey Cream Sauce.

Rachael Ray’s Easy Holiday Feast

Sunday, December 15 at 11am ET/8am PT

Encore Presentation Wednesday, December 18 at 7pm ET/4pm PT

Rachael Ray has come up with a holiday meal that’s guaranteed to impress all of your guests…and you’ll be impressed that with just a little planning, you can make the entire thing in under 60 minutes! At the centre of the table: Soy and Cider Brined Turkey on Toast Points with Maple-Soy Gravy paired with three delicious sides: Orange and Paprika-Scented Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Barbequed Corn Succotash and Roasted Sugar Snap Peas with Black Pepper.

The Pioneer Woman: Christmas is Coming

Monday, December 16 at 7pm ET/4pm PT

Encore Presentation Sunday, December 22 at 10am ET/7am PT

Everyone’s invited to the Pioneer Woman ranch as the Drummonds count down to Christmas. Host Ree whips up a cozy and casual Rigatoni and Meatballs to eat while the family trims the tree, then she makes her mom’s Holiday Bacon Appetizers — so she’s stocked up for whoever drops by the ranch over the festive season. Santa’s asked for chocolate this year when he comes down the chimney, so Ree shows viewers how to make incredible Chocolate Mint Brownie Bites.

Trisha’s Southern Kitchen: Holiday Cookie Party

Monday, December 16 at 7:30pm ET/4:30 PT

Encore Presentation Sunday, December 22 at 10:30am ET/7:30am PT

Host Trisha Yearwood is joined in the kitchen by her dear friend Lisa and her daughters, “T-Bone” and Haley, for a Yearwood tradition, her annual holiday cookie swap. Together they make Sweet Tea for the bakers, then it’s on to the cookies. There’s bound to be a cookie to please everyone, when Trisha makes Snickerdoodles, Bess London’s Pecan Tassies and lovely Iced Sugar Cookies.

Iron Chef America: Winter Ice Battle

Monday, December 16 at 11pm ET/8pm PT

Encore Presentation Saturday, December 21 at 9pm ET/6pm PT

Iron Chefs Bobby Flay and Jose Garces team up to battle Iron Chefs Masaharu Moriomoto and Geoffrey Zakarian in a frozen wonderland, where food must be served on elaborate plates carved from huge blocks of ice. Judges are actor Anthony Anderson, chef Alfred Portale and restaurant consultant Karine Bakhoum.

Giada’s Christmas Dinner

Thursday, December 19 at 7pm ET/4pm PT

Encore Presentation Saturday, December 21 at 10am ET/7am PT

Giada and her family celebrate the holidays at Aunt Raffy’s house in Aspen. Fun filled days in the snowy mountains begin and end with family meals, good cheer, and amazing food. The menu for the weekend includes traditional Italian struffoli, delicious straccoto (Italian pot roast), a special holiday French toast, and more!

Barefoot Holiday: Back to Brooklyn

Thursday, December 19 at 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT

Encore Presentation Saturday, December 21 at 10:30am ET/7:30am PT

It’s a trip down memory lane for Ina and Jeffrey with a day trip to Brooklyn visiting places old and new. The day kicks off with a fabulous breakfast, followed by a culinary tour of the city including a visit to the best pizza place in town, Franny’s Pizzeria. Finally, it’s back to East Hampton for a retro nightcap.

Restaurant: Impossible – Holiday: Impossible 2

Tuesday, December 17 at 11pm ET/8pm PT

Encore Presentation Saturday, December 21 at 10pm ET/7pm PT

This is Chef Robert Irvine’s biggest mission yet as he and his team are heading to the Jersey Shore to transform not one, but two, locations that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. With three days and $50,000 for the makeovers, Robert and his team will work to restore the LBI Pancake House to its former glory, and give the dedicated first responders of the Ship Bottom Fire Company a much deserved “thank you.”

Sandwich King: Holiday Sandwiches

Friday, December 20 at 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT

Encore Presentation Monday, December 23 at 12:30pm ET/9:30am PT

Most people associate the holidays with big roasts, but Sandwich King host Jeff Mauro isn’t most people. He’s got sandwiches on the brain when everyone else is in feast mode, and he’s always thinking about ways to work with that holiday cheer. So he heads to his grandmother’s house to learn the secret to her special holiday sausage bread and — of course — turn it into a sandwich. Say hello to the Sausage Bread Brunch Sandwich.

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Tennessee Holiday Traditions

Friday, December 20 at 10pm ET/PT

Encore Presentation Sunday, December 22 at 5pm ET/ 2pm PT

Guy’s digging into the unique holiday traditions in Hendersonville, Tennessee at a barbecue joint that serves up a traditional shoulder pull and a holiday ham with a fiery finish. And over in Nashville, Guy visits a tiny taco joint wraps up traditional Mexican tamales and unique quinoa sweet potato tacos.

Complete Schedule and Lineup here. Happy Cookin’!

(Photo credit: FOOD Network)