Iron Chef America featured Chef Graham Elliot Bowles vs. Iron Chef Bobby Flay recently on the Food Network. Chef Bowles hails from the Peninsula Hotel restaurant Avenues. I have not watched many episodes of the American version of the dramatic and humorous cooking show but since Bowles is a Chicago boy I felt compelled to tune in. The ingredient de jour was Chocolate; not an easy flavor to combine with other foods and remain creative across the five courses.

Bowles delivered a beautiful spread of lobster carpaccio on white chocolate panna cotta, savory Mexican chocolate soup, tuna with cocoa nibs and chocolate aroma, bison with a red wine-chocolate reduction, and milk chocolate ice cream and chocolate soda pop. Bobby followed a slightly different path with chocolate pumpkin soup served in hollowed-out pumpkins, duck served with a spicy chocolate barbecue sauce, blue corn-chocolate Johnny cakes, chocolate-raspberry-cranberry parfait, and a chocolate soufflé.

Truly tremendous offerings from both master Chefs but Flay come out on top with a two point advantage. While I would not go as far as saying Bowles was robbed I would say with the exception of one judge, Queer Eye’s Ted Allen, that the judges were utter idiots. The old man was a bumbling moron and could not form a complete sentence. Unfortunate for Bowles he had two losers judging his exquisite menu but after seeing his creativity the wife and I will be visit Avenues soon.