It’s time for Farrah Olivia chef Mourou Outtara to start brainstorming seven ways to serve shrimp and 20 ways to tackle tofu.
Outtara will soon join eight other slaves to the secret ingredient — the D.C.-based cooking star has been selected to compete on the Food Network’s latest reality series, “The Next Iron Chef”.
Each will take part in an elimination-style program where the winner will become a permanent member of the cast of “Iron Chef America”, which features regulars Mario Batali, Cat Cora, Bobby Flay and Masaharu Morimoto. Other contestants include New Orleans-based John Besh of Restaurant August and Santa Monica’s Jill Davie of Josie.
“Iron Chef’s” premise has a guest chef competing against one of the regulars to see who can come up with the most satisfying ways to prepare dishes that incorporate one specified ingredient, which neither is aware of until it is announced on television.
Many of the details of the new show are under wraps, according to Food Network spokeswoman Lisa del Colle. Taping began last week in various undisclosed locations and will finishnext week. Contestants are being restricted from media interviews, del Colle said.
The televised competition will be structured more like a traditional reality show than the regular Iron Chef program, del Colle said, with the chefs going through a series of challenges to demonstrate what the show’s chairman deems to be the important qualities for an Iron Chef to possess.
The Food Network is not disclosing how the eight finalists were chosen.
“He’s always been on our radar,” del Colle said of Outtara, who has competed on Iron Chef America before and won a local version of the competition last fall.
The program debuts Oct. 7, and will be judged by cookbook author Michael Ruhlman, “Bon Appetit” Editor Andrew Nknowlton and New York restaurant owner Donatella Arpaia.
