Iron Chef V & E 2009

I was asked by a co-worker to participate in my Firm's Annual Iron Chef Competition, which kicks off the food drive we support during the holiday season. We put together a crew from all different backgrounds and departments. We met, brainstormed and planned out the perfect menu. We strategized about how to cheat and win.

Oh did I mention that the secret ingredient was Vienna Sausage? And because this kick off was benefiting our local food bank, we could only use items which would typically be donated to a food bank...in other words only canned and dry goods. We were given one microwave and were allowed to bring a skillet, knives and cutting boards. I embellished our cookware by bringing everything from the Conference Center down to the competition. The other teams were so ill prepared it was embarrassing. But that was our intent. At one point in the competition the team of attorneys resorted to throwing cash at the judges because he just couldn't compete anymore.

Our menu was far superior:

Appetizer
Vienna Bruschetta- tomato tartar topped with Vienna Sausage served on Toast Points
Translation- Crushed tomatoes with a slice of Vienna Sausage on a Ritz Cracker

Main Course
"Our Genuine, Authentic, One of a Kind, Vienna Holiday Dinner"
Braised Vienna "The other other white meat"
Mashed Potatoes served over Mushroom and Vienna Giblet Gravy
Green beans aux Vienna (I made Vienna Sausage bacon)
Butter carrots
Almost homemade Cranberry Relish

Dessert
Fresh Imported Vienna Fruit Cups
Translation- we cleaned out the cans of Vienna Sausage and filled them with canned fruit salad

The cheating started with a hot towel treatment for the judges:


Then the Cranberry Spritzers:


Here we are cooking.


We were ultimately victorious in the end: