Hail to the chef -- First Lady Michelle Obama will make an appearance on a White House-based episode of Food Network's 'Iron Chef America.'
The two-hour event, which kicks off the new season of the cook-off series on Jan. 3, pits Iron Chefs Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse against Iron Chef Bobby Flay and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford. Their challenge is to create five dishes in a "meal for America" featuring the secret ingredient (revealed by none other than the First Lady herself): anything found in the White House Kitchen Garden.
Judging this competition are cookbook author and chef Nigella Lawson, Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer (and former 'Dancing With the Stars' contestant) Natalie Coughlin, and actress (and fellow 'DWTS' also-ran) Jane Seymour.
This fusion of food, politics, and television was reportedly cooked up by Michelle Obama's communications team as a way to help publicize the First Lady's efforts to spread the word about eating healthily and curbing childhood obesity. (The White House Kitchen Garden was also featured in last night's episode of NBC's 'The Biggest Loser.')
Regardless of any political leanings, however, fans of cook-off shows will no doubt salivate from the sheer culinary power unleashed in this epic Kitchen Stadium event. And to show off scrumptious dishes using locally produced, organic ingredients? That's just icing on the cake.
-- Allyssa Lee
