What's kooking?

We’ve got a brand new show premiering tonight 8pmET/5pmPT called CheF*Off!  It pits two top chefs, both named Michael -- Chef Lyon from Banff, Alberta and Chef Blackie from Ottawa -- in a cook-off with the odds stacked pretty high against them.

Bizarre ingredients, sudden rule changes, unusual cooking locations and judges who might be culinary experts or grade three kids are all part of the culinary chaos that makes CheF*Off! so much fun to watch.  With each episode, the battle becomes more intense and the punishment more humiliating as in dressing up as a hotdog humiliating. Although the two chefs are longtime friends, you’ll see it doesn’t ease the competitive tension between them.  

I chatted briefly with one of the Michaels, Chef Blackie who was getting ready to prepare a BBQ feast for 500.  Freakin’ hilarious and super-charming is how I would describe the Executive Chef of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Just read Chef Blackie’s answers to the 10 cooking related questions below and see for yourself. Chef Lyon, I'm calling you next so get ready to match Chef Blackie's funny and charm.  I'm pretty sure you won't disappoint.

1. What is your favorite kitchen utensil/gadget?
Ice cube tray. This way my rum and coke is always cold.

2. What would we find in your fridge on a typical day?
Cheese drawer full of fresh herbs slowly rotting. I can’t stand dried herbs in little jars in the cupboard. I love teasing my friends with all their skanky dried herbs in the cupboards.

3. Where does your love of cooking come from?
That’s a great question. As my mother is Irish and my father is Scottish, food in my house growing up was pretty grey and non-inspiring. My true love of food comes from the social implications of cooking. Great food attracts creative and engaging people.  

4. Who are your favorite cookbook authors?
I love Nobu Matsuhisa, Thomas Keller, Paco, Roncerro, Martin Picard, Joan Roca, Salvador Brugues, Nancy Zaslavsky, Alfred Portale.

5. Do you have a favourite Food Network show/host?(besides yourself of course ;)
I like Pitchin’ In with Lynn Crawford we’re long time friends – she’s such an inspiration to me and Giada at Home ‘cause she’s hot – sorry Lynn, no offense.

6. What would your last meal on earth be?
Shaved White Alba truffles over creamy risotto (at least a 1/4 pound).

7. What is your guilty food pleasure?
Death in a box: Kraft dinner.

8. What do you typically eat for lunch?
Fourteen spoons of different sauces from throughout the kitchen.

9. What are your favourite food blogs?
Foodie prints
Simply Fresh
Whisk a Food Blog
Rachelle Eats Food
Epicuria.ca
Sam Sifton – writes for the New York Times Diner’s Journal
Wine align
www.mediastyle.ca
Lana Stewart

10. What, if any, are your culinary predictions for the near future?
Ever changing will the food and style of service be in our industry – I hate to predict because you’re asking me to delve into my mind and If I think too hard about it I’ll probably come up with some really cool idea and everyone will want to do it so screw that!

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