This is the debut battle of Iron Chef Italian Masahiko Kobe.
It's been four years since Kitchen Stadium opened. We travel to one of the best Italian restaurants in the world, Inotecha Pinchiori, to find the newest Iron Chef, Iron Chef Italian Masahiko Kobe (27).
Today's challenger has been in Kitchen Stadium before. He battled Iron Chef Chen Kenichi back in 1995, in the Scampi Battle. He is considered one of the best pasta chefs in Japan. This has to be the first battle where the challenger actually has more experience in Kitchen Stadium than the Iron Chef. There will be one later when one of Michiba's former assistants battles Morimoto in only his 5th appearance as Iron Chef. (Sweetfish)
Kaga welcomes the challenger and summons the three Iron Chefs. He then tells the challenger, "Of course, today you won't be doing battle with these three."
The first thing you'll notice once the gong of fate sounds is that deliberate pace with which Kobe approaches the theme. This may be the only time I have ever seen him not running to the podium to get his ingredients. He is moving as slowly as I've ever seen him move. Every now and then, Kobe gets a look of confusion, but that's somewhat understandable as it is his first battle. They keep mentioning the fact that Kobe is 27 years old.
In the royal box today are challengers from previous battles.
- Yamada (Cabbage)
- Kobayashi (Pumpkin)
- Osako (Mushroom )
- Uetake (Peach)
- Kitami (Tomato)
Challenger's Dishes
--Rice pasta, two-color hors d'ourves
--Handmade pasta in eggplant
--Foie Gras and Duck Ravioli
--Rotelli Soup
--macaroni and Farfalle two-color pasta
--Beef Filet and Truffle Conchiglie Round Wrap
--Pasta "Napkin" dessert
Iron Chef's Dishes
--Scallop & Conchiglie Gratin & ?? Salad
--Tomato ?? Soup, Gnocci
--Chocolate Trofie
--Penne & Broccoli with Mushroom Sauce
--Cheese Pasta Wrap
Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto, Masumi Okada (Actor), Kazuko Katoh (Actress), Asako Kishi
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