Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: News

"Team Iron Chefs," the returning champions from last year's Iron Chef competition, get their dish ready right before the judging. "Iron Chef" team members included; Uzo Eluwa left a sophomore from Grand Blanc, Jenison freshman Andrew Davis and Troutman Residence Hall Director Bill O'Dell. [Click to enlarge]

Minority Student Services put on an Iron Chef competition in the Bovee University Center on Wednesday. The competition included many groups creating a dish to be judged on various categories such as taste and appearance. [Click to enlarge]

Students had one hour to prepare their best food dishes Wednesday night in the Bovee University Center's Rotunda.

An Iron Chef cooking competition helped kick off the Asian Heritage Month celebration at CMU.

Several different foods, including vegetables, shitake mushrooms and cooking sauces, were placed on a table in the middle of the room where competitors, who were unaware of what ingredients they could use prior to the event, could get what they needed.

The winning team, "Holy Crap!," was made up of Montgomery junior Linsey Grove, White Lake junior Ted Grossnickle and Commerce Township sophomore Elizabeth Sullivan.

"We cooked mashed potatores out of Puruvian potates we were given," Grove said.

Many competitors were new to cooking competitions or were looking for new ways to cook food. Lapeer junior Dan Clem used the event to get some culinary practice.

"I wanted to participate because it would be a fun way to learn how to cook," Clem said.

More than 200 people attended the event, which brought in more than $600 for the Asian Culture Organization.

Three judges walked around, looking at each group of students prepare their food to determine who had the best dish. Eight groups of two or three took part in the event.

Clem and China graduate student Anna Hangli partnered up to form team "Danna" and cook garlic fried mushrooms with bacon. Hangli said the competition was about more than just food.

"This is very meaningful for others to remember their roots and heritage and to learn more about Asia," Hangli said. "It is good that they can go to these events and have a chance to participate in them."

Like the TV show, various workers with microphones walked around so they could tell the audience what the contestants were preparing and how they were doing it.

Midland sophomore Ying-Chu Liu said she was excited for Iron Chef as well as other events to come.

"When they have things for my culture, I like to go because I can share my culture with others," Liu said. "My friend came to this last year, so I wanted to make it out this year, and I am participating in Fear Factor next week."

Several contestants were there to celebrate their own Asian culture, while other contestants took part to learn more about Asian culture.

Chicago graduate student Latreese Hall said she likes participating and was there to have some fun.

"I was told about the events that were going on and I really like to get involved in those," Hall said. "This is another good opportunity to participate."


news@cm-life.com

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