Moscrop's Iron Chef Showdown: A Culinary Blast! (Newspaper)
Hey, Moscrop foodies and all you flavor enthusiasts! Last week, our school was sizzling—not just from the early summer heat but from the fiery competition in our very own "Iron Chef" contest, held from April 17 to 19 in the gastronomic havens of Ms. Greenside and Mr. Hunter's food rooms.
The Main Dish: Event Deets
Organized by the Moscrop Secondary School student government, the competition was a total feast for the senses, featuring 12 creative teams, split between junior and senior divisions. Each team, ranging from solo chefs to quartets, brought their A-game and their own ingredients to whip up themed dishes that were nothing short of mouthwatering. With just an hour on the clock, the kitchens were buzzing with culinary magic as teams tackled themes like "Comfort Food" for juniors and "First Date" for the seniors.
Our culinary gladiators were competing for more than just bragging rights; a Mega food basket was on the line, judged by a panel of our own, including Principal Mr. Sandors and the esteemed Mr. Abrino, Mr. A. Hunter, Ms. Brown, Ms. Langile, Ms. Quelch, and Ms. Campbell.
Chef’s Special: A Chat with Champion San Bao Zhou
We caught up with the champion of the senior teams, the one and only San Bao Zhou, who along with his buddy Samuel, cooked up a storm and clinched the top spot with their daring dishes. Here's what the culinary wizard had to share about his experience:
Why did you decide to jump into this culinary battle?
"Well, my friend Samuel roped me in, and honestly, who could say no to such a thrilling challenge?"
How seasoned are you in the kitchen?
"I’ve been into Western cooking for about 2 years—love a good chicken ballotine. But I’ve been stirring up Chinese dishes for 5-6 years.You should try my special dish, a hearty bowl of ramen!
What was on your winning menu?
"We started with flame-grilled gyoza, moved onto a main course of crispy pork skin belly dressed uniquely with chocolate icing, and rounded it off with sugar-glazed carrots and potato croquettes."
Any kitchen disasters?
"We almost torched the kitchen while flambeing the gyoza—talk about playing with fire!"
What was the toughest part of the competition?
"Definitely communicating with Samuel—he’s not too sharp with cooking terms, and our first mission was not to talk for 10 minutes! Plus, only using a spoon for another 10 was pretty intense."
How did you incorporate the special ingredient?
"The chocolate icing was daringly used as a dressing for the pork belly. Principal Sandors commented, 'It was hard to put chocolate in a dish that isn’t sweet, but it tasted good.'"
Plans after high school?
"I’m aiming to major in something cooking-related and maybe invent some edible chemical dishes one day. Oh, and I've got to pass a government test to get my pro chef suit—it’s a cool $100 bucks!"
Final thoughts on winning?
"Totally deserved it. It was fair and square. Honestly, we had no real competition!"
San's dishes not only wowed the judges but also left everyone wondering what culinary heights he will climb next. With his sights set high and his flavors set to thrill, we're all eager to see where his culinary journey takes him.
There you have it, folks! This year’s Iron Chef at Moscrop was a total blast—full of laughs, some close calls, and above all, delicious dishes. Can't wait to see what's cooking for next year's showdown!
