Ep 12. Mishima Beef

Iron Chef is a cooking competition show where a challenger chef goes head-to-head with one of the Iron Chefs in a timed cooking battle. The show’s first season features 13 episodes, each with a different theme ingredient that the chefs must highlight in their dishes.

In episode 12, the theme ingredient is Mishima beef, a high-quality beef from Japan’s Mishima island. The challenger chef is Masaaki Miyakawa, a Japanese chef who owns a restaurant in New York City. He will be cooking against Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who is known for his innovative takes on traditional Japanese cuisine.

The episode starts with the theme ingredient reveal and both chefs getting ready for battle in their respective kitchens. They have one hour to cook five dishes that must highlight Mishima beef in some way. Both chefs start by slicing the beef into thin pieces and marinating them in different sauces.

Chef Morimoto decides to make a tartare with chopped Mishima beef mixed with Japanese seasonings like shiso and ginger. He also creates a sushi roll with the beef inside and adds some nori sheets for crunch. For his third dish, he grills the beef and serves it with a dipping sauce made with garlic and ponzu. He decides to fry the remaining beef pieces and creates a crispy dish served with a spicy mayo and a side of pickled vegetables.

On the other hand, challenger chef Miyakawa starts with creating a soup with sautéed mushrooms and thinly sliced Mishima beef, and he adds some yuzu juice for acidity. For his second dish, he grills the beef and serves it with a miso-based sauce and a side of grilled vegetables. He then creates a sushi roll with the beef and adds some avocado and tobiko for texture. His fourth dish is a pan-fried beef steak served with a black pepper sauce and garlic chips. Finally, he makes a soba noodle dish with Mishima beef and a dashi-based broth.

Both chefs are working hard to create unique dishes that showcase their skills and the quality of the Mishima beef. They carefully balance the flavors and textures in each dish, making sure that the beef is the star of the show.

As the cooking time runs out, both chefs frantically finish plating their dishes and present them to the judges. The judges taste all 10 dishes and evaluate them on taste, presentation, use of the theme ingredient, and creativity.

Finally, the judges decide on a winner. Will Iron Chef Morimoto retain his title, or will challenger Chef Miyakawa win the day?

Overall, this episode of Iron Chef is a fine display of skill and innovation in cooking. With the challenge ingredient being Mishima beef, both chefs have their work cut out for them to create standout dishes. The results are fantastic, and viewers will enjoy seeing what can be done with this highly-prized ingredient.