Comments on: Jehangir Mehta: The Next Iron Chef?

By: Lacy

Lacy — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:07:03 +0000

A chef who was called the â€˜underdogâ€™, came so close to clinching the â€˜Next Iron Chefâ€™ title, but was let down by the judging format. Chef Mehta was undoubtedly the most deserving candidate to don the crown. I am sure many envied his amazing culinary skills. Who else could dare to think of cooking exotic stuff from simple ingredients, rather than churning up what they know best. Only Chef Mehta can do that. Just to add drama to the reality show, editing techniques were used to paint Chef Mehta like a villain. Itâ€™s Not Fair! In the show, his cooking techniques were great, and he was also much ahead of the other contestants in terms of creativity. He took risks, did not bother what the other contestants thought about his experiments and, abracadabra … some amazing stuff came out from it. This shows his passion, his zeal to experiment. Remember, some of the great dishes we have today, is probably because someone dared to experiment! I am a foodie, and for me the experience of eating something new, something eclectic, matters to me much more than â€˜just being served foodâ€™. He may have lost the title, but for me, â€˜Chef Mehta is the winnerâ€™.

By: Go Garces!

Go Garces! — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:44:53 +0000

I’m just a little sad that Chef Mehta lost because he’s almost like a Bond villain, and he would have finally given me an Iron Chef that I would have rooted for to lose. Sorry, I was very bitter over the grape leaf fiasco – he was just too gleeful about how he totally screwed another chef.

But he was just lost in the sauce during the battle – Alton Brown had to tell him his pressure cooker was open? He didn’t know what was in one of his dishes (the gyoza)? Plus, the Iron Chef judges were just brutal – Symon and Morimoto basically sealed his doom, I think, no matter how much Drooly McDroolyFace (Jeffrey) wanted him to win.

By: rah

rah — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:48:56 +0000

I ate at Graffiti a year or two ago and enjoyed my food, if not the high prices. (I’m more into cheap eats than fancy cuisine.) But Mehta came out near the end of our meal just to check on us, chat a bit and see if we liked everything. He came across as an exceedingly gracious host. I haven’t watched any of the Iron Chef show, but I would guess that if he is portrayed as anything but nice, it is because of story editors’ use of judicious editing. “Reality” tv dishes out constructed reality.

By: zora

zora — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:42:57 +0000

I’ve followed chef Mehta’s career for many years, when he was just a pastry chef, and no one knew him. I’ve met him several times, and have to say, he is one of the mellowest, gentlest, unassuming people I’ve met. He had every opportunity to brag when we met, and he did not.

If you dont’ know how editing works, you’d be surprised how much “story” is made in the editing. A dirty look given to a mop will be edited in as if it’s a dirty look given to someone’s remark, etc. If you’ve ever watched Wife Swap or shows like that, you must know that the “story” is often pre-written to a large extent beforehand; and when it doesnt happen the way the producers want, they edit like crazy to make it appear that way. Obviously this is different; perhaps The Apprentice might be a better analogy. In that, they made certain people “villains” because it makes for a more interesting viewing. Much of it is via editing.

By: phillygrrls

phillygrrls — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:32:58 +0000

Q. Pastry chef. Party planner. Cookbook author. Teacher. Reality show contestant. Whatâ€™s next on your plate? A. LOL waiting for a call for dancing with the stars!

I hope they're paying attention. Someone get this man out of the kitchen and onto a dance floor!

By: jyotsana

jyotsana — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:54:18 +0000

Less reason than ever to watch Iron Chef. Iron Chef USA folded up because the organizers played the fool with the challengers – Booby Flay almost got electrocuted. This edition too is headed for the trash-can if they are going to feature Iron Chefs who dish out the same slop – chunks of meat with some seasoning on it. Chefs should be able to cook, not simply carve up a few chunks of flesh topped with some eye candy. An utter waste of time.

By: Amrita

Amrita — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:13:11 +0000

"...honey, lemon juice and brandy"

I knew that recipe-- a masterpiece, and it works.

By: khoofi

khoofi — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:22:57 +0000

unusual and original dishes such as pickled ginger scallops, bitter melon fritters, and apple and soy caramel skewers

Fritter. i say old fruity, back home in the pind they just call these masaledar karela. LOL.

By: buckbo

buckbo — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:48:53 +0000

I knew that Chef Mehta was done for when I saw the ribs. Not too many Indian chefs grew up eating them, and therefore wouldn't have a good feel for preparing them. Looks like his sous chefs didn't rise to the occasion though. From what I could tell, the sous prepped the undercooked pork burger and did the fries, both of which were lowly rated by the judges.
Chef Garces does add a good dollop of diversity to the bunch of Iron Chefs. Congratulations to them all.

By: kiki

kiki — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:27:27 +0000

i am realy sad chef mehta lost.hmmmm…..i realy liked him. damit,he’s HOT!!