Eleven contestants will get to test their creativity and skills in an intense culinary battle during Oklahoma State University’s take on the gastronomic phenomenon TV show “Iron Chef.”
The Starlight Terrace, the venue for the “Lord of the Chefs,” will be transformed into a fully equipped cooking environment, providing participants with the resources needed.
Sponsored by the Student Union Activities Board and University Dining Services, the show starts at 7:30 p.m. today.
“The idea for a cooking competition came as a result of our efforts to bring diversity to all our events,” said Marieta Petrova, education and leadership graduate student and SUAB cultural vice-chair. “We had Diva Diction, which is a slam poetry performance; we have the cultural dinners every semester — Lord of the Chefs, a cooking competition; and then we will be having a Native American art show.
“The main purpose, of course, is to get together and have fun.”
First, an elimination round will take place during which the contestants will have to display their expertise with knives.
“In the first round, there will be specific things they have to do with knives,” said Wayne Prater, UDS manager. “They will have to cut dices of specific proportions, which I will measure. Only the best two qualify for the final round.”
“This is a round used by the American Culinary Foundation,” Prater said.
The winners move into the final round in which they will have to prepare within one hour a three-course meal out of a list of ingredients made known to them a day earlier. The twist is a secret theme ingredient they must use in all their dishes, which will be unveiled only during the final round.
“Only four people know the secret ingredient right now,” Prater said.
The judges will base their decision on four main criteria: creativity, appearance, taste and texture.
“Bonus points can also be given to a participant, but this decision rests on the judges and will be given only to something really special,” Prater said. “Also, the judges will have to explain why they gave those extra points.”
The terrace will be arranged in such a way that the audience is involved in the whole process.
“The Starlight Terrace will be organized in a theatrical seating so that the audience can follow what is happening in the two little kitchens,” Petrova said. “We are working on having a camera that will follow the two finalists as they prepare the dishes. The camera will be hooked up to a big TV screen and we will have something like a live TV show.”
UDS will be providing all the necessities to the competitors.
“We just want to get people interested in cooking, give exposure to our other events and get people involved,” Prater said.
Two “Iron Chef” aficionados, Jessica Ong, nutrition junior, and Novita Arianti, international business freshman, plan to attend the event.
“It will be interesting to see their creativity under pressure,” Arianti said.
Ong agreed.
“Hopefully we can watch the show from close-up and also get to taste the food,” Ong said.
Admission is free and open to all.
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