Food TV

Paula Deen. Tyler Florence. Cat Cora. Robert Irvine. Sugar. All together in kitchen stadium. Could we ask for a better episode of ICA? Sugar, of all colors and textures.

The good works starts immediately with elf outfits, and a lemon chiffon that promises to be a Bouche De Noel. (Othewise known as a Yule Log Cake.) And a whole lot of trash talk. Soon we see some beautiful fudge balls rolling right out of Paula’s loving hands, but mad with “processed cheese”? There’s not enough chocolate and sugar in the world to make Velveeta edible, in my opinion… But if anyone can pull it off, it’s Paula. There is a whole lot going on in Kitchen Stadium, but I’m not sure a whole lot of it is cooking. It’s fun to watch though. The Sous chefs seem to be the only one’s really doing much work. There are cookies baking and syrups simmering… The hour works down and the men-folk seem to be falling behind. While the ladies are putting out dish after dish, most of them laced with alcohol of one kind or another. That’s the way to do it Ladies!!! Both teams made an attempt at an Eggnog Ice Cream. On the ladies side it came out lovely, but for some reason, the men’s attempt came out looking a bit like scrambled eggs and NOTHING like ice cream. Their Bouche De Noel, as well, is a disaster. Chef Florence cooled the cake while it was still lying flat. Even I know (from my thanksgiving Pumpking Roll Cake) that if you are going to roll a cake you must first roll it while it’s warm, and then let it cool. After it has cooled you unroll it, fill it, and roll it again. Instead, his, cracked into thirds and he ended with a Yule Plank rather than a log. Still I’m sure it was really tasty.

So on the ladies side there were seven dishes in the end, with an enormous Tart Tropezian, that looked like a big ol’ strawberry shortcake. There was a candy cane cocktail, spiked milk, with cookies for Santa, Chocolate Pudding Cake, that Cheese Fudge, which Paula covered in caramel and white chocolate, and so much more sugary goodness. Robert and Tyler had their Bouche De Noel-ish … Cranberry Clofoutie (basically cranberries and egg custard), a spiced ginger cake with sugared cranberries and something else that they put sugared cranberries on. You would think that cranberries were the secret ingredient with these guys. They did have to total of five dishes, and while it all looked really good, I do have to say that it came as no surprise to me when the winners were announced, and it should come as no surprise to you, when I tell you that the winners were…

Cat Cora and Paula Deen. Proving once again that at the holiday time, you cannot beat a grandma making desserts.

Now, go check outthe project going on over at the Hogwarts Herald. I think it’s really cool…