Battle Beets, at Steve and Dana's Brick Castle: January 21, 2012

With attrition threatening to end our themed food based battles, our campaign was invigorated by an infusion of old and new blood (or was that beet juice?).

Congratulations to comrade Guille, who took home the gold with his delicious and beautiful production of The Czaяina’s Boяscht with beet green compound butter on toasted rye. Silver was awarded to Elizabeth and Max's incredibly moist and fluffy Chocolate "Beet-down" cupcakes w/cream cheese frosting. Edging out the bronze medal was Erica's rich, chocolaty Beetches & Ho's poop log cake (her words).

That was a good one folks, it was the one to beet! Stay tuned for news on the next installment of Iron Chef!

The Czaяina’s Boяscht with beet green compound butter on toasted rye, by Guille and Sam (click here for recipe)

Elizabeth's Chocolate "Beet-down" cupcakes w/cream cheese frosting (apparently Max also helped)

On the left, Clay's Beetches & Ho Ho's featuring Ho Ho ding-dongs and beet jelly giblets. On the right, Erica's Beetches & Ho's, poop log edition, which I wish I took better pictures of since it took home the bronze.

Matt made an incredible first showing with his Fusion Beets

Jon and Caitlin's Savory Blueberry Beet Cakes

Dave's Cake, 'nuff said

Megan and Jason's Beethoven's Chocolate Symphony

Carmin and Will's Bears... Beets... Cake

Robin's Beet Focaccia, so good I was unable to take a picture of it before it was ravaged

At the end of the night, everyone cozied up to the fire, courtesy of Netflix.

Unfortunately, I (Steve) had neglected to take pictures of actual people, so I took the liberty of scouring the internets, taking advantage of everyone's lax application of Facebook's privacy settings, and made a collage of all who attended (with a few extra "friends").

Battle Bourbon, at Jon and Caitlin's Mod-loft: November 5, 2011

This one was somewhat sparsely attended, probably on account of the holiday season. Those who stayed home missed out, however, as Jon and Caitlin know how to throw a party—and everyone knows how to cook.

Congrats to Steve, who could have won many times in the past with great dishes, but finally took home his first trophy with these pulled pork bourbon sliders. As always, the trophy was metaphorical. 

We look forward to the next installment, likely to take place in January. Prepare yourselves for battle ???!

Steve Luu preparing his winning dish: bourbon-citrus pulled pork sliders with onion relish.

Sam and Guille's delicious apple-bourbon bread pudding.

Elizabeth and Max's high-class bourbon chicken. Yes, like at the mall. 

Battle Peach, at Dave and Uppie's

I, uh, don't seem to have photos of this one. Hrm...

Jon Myers won!

Battle Ginger: Max and Elizabeth's place, April 23, 2011

What a feast. Probably my favorite set of dishes of any of the battles I've been to so far. Nice work all! Thanks to Lisa for the photos, which look awesome.

Congratulations to Dave Andrew, who took top prize with his outstanding ginger vichyssoise. We all look forward to the first Iron Chef hosted by Dave and Uppie, who know how to throw a party.

Liz Warren took second place with a refreshing and balanced ginger summer slaw, and Steve Luu took third with a beautifully cooked and plated dish of ginger shrimp and candied walnuts.

Honorable mention went to one of several delectable desserts: ginger lime pie from the elusive but talented Adrian.

Lisa's Ginger Beignets with Pear and Ginger Dipping Sauce. They are NOT DONUTS, yo.

Guille and Sam brought some arts and crafts vibe with a build-your-own carnitas taco station. You know it's a bangin' Iron Chef when Guille doesn't even place.

Andrea and Tabitha would have us believe that they just "threw together" this delicious ginger beet coconut curry. I loved it, and I usually don't go for beets.

Adrian's Gilligan's Island Pie (because of the Professor, get it? Oh, wait. Ginger.). Really great.

Jon W. and Esmé put their usual whimsy into these ginger pop tarts. Great ginger flavor, and a nice egg wash to make them shiny.

Steve Luu needs to drag his lady to the party next time so that she can hear everyone talk about how good his food is. Here's his note-perfect Ginger Walnut Shrimp.

Liz W. and Seth made a refreshing and perfectly balanced summer slaw with sesame and pickled ginger.

...and the winner, this oh-so-buttery avocado ginger vichyssoise by long-time listener, first-time caller Dave! Congratulations, and please send the recipe.

Battle Mint: The Wilson Homestead, February 26, 2011

This was a cozy edition of Iron Chef, with dishes that all went together as a meal: bruschetta, chilled soup, salad, roasted carrots and dessert. Jessie Wilson hosted, and went straight from dinner to celebrating her birthday.

Thanks to Jen Holland for the pics!

I can't remember the order of all the dishes, but I believe that the minted roast carrots and chilled cucumber soup took second and third place. Chocolate banana bread pudding with mint créme anglaise took the top slot, and Max and Elizabeth will host Battle Ginger in April.

Liz's minted roast carrots

Jen and Ben's goat cheese bruschetta w/mint

Jon W. and Esmé's raspberry mint salad with quinoa and chile almonds

Elizabeth and Max's chocolate banana bread pudding with mint créme anglaise

Steve's chilled spicy cucumber mint soup

Jon explains how to plate his dish

Max looks disapproving, Elizabeth looks purple

The birthday girl has a laugh with Steve before tasting

Ben has a vested interest in the outcome (that pun happened, deal with it)

Battle Coconut: Hosted by Jen and Ben

Jen and Ben hosted Battle Coconut on January 28, 2011. Thanks to Keith and Jon W. for the pics and details.

Steve's Coconut Milk and Red Bean Pudding

Jon W.'s "C4B"

3rd Place: Adrian's Coconut Fish Curry

Danny's "Al Dente" Bean Stew with Fried Plantains

The full menu

Honorable Mention for Innovation: Guille and Sam's Chilled Coconut Mango Soup

HOSTS ARE AWESOME

Derek and Kindall's Coconut-Coconut Curry with Veggies and Fried Tofu

Liz's Coconut "Custard," (tasty but jiggly)

1st Place: Jessie's Honey-Glazed Bone-In Pork Chops stuffed with Raspberry-Jalapeño Coconut

Honorable Mention for Presentation: Andrea and Tabitha's "Lookin' at my Sugar Lumps" Mango Sticky Rice

Honorable Mention for Genre Recipe: Keith and Sarah's Girl Scout Cookies with Coconut Milk (no Girl Scouts were harmed)

2nd Place: Lisa O.'s Coconut Parfait

Carvin' Hero