Iron Chef Battle: BEER

Challenger, Daniel Angerer is the executive chef and owner of Klee in Manhattan, NY.  He chose to challenge Bobby Flay for the battle of beer  (he should have picked Symon or Morimoto).  Anyway, throughout the episode, the dishes described by both chefs sounded unbelievable.  Honestly, the execution was disappointing from both sides.  Some of the beers used were Ivanhoe, which is an English Pale Ale (most used), Shiner Hefe-Weizen, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen (really smokey), and Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout.  Angerer was definitely more creative in my eyes, but clearly not the judges as, Bobby took the originality points.  Chef Angerer made pretzel spaetzle, popcorn crusted chicken and beer creme fraiche.  His best dish was by far his dessert, fruit cobbler with beer meringue that was lightly torched and topped with caramelized  bacon.  Chef Flay made more than one mistake this challenge, and the judges made this pretty damn clear.  Although the judges raved about his dessert, Chocolate Stout cake with beer sabayon and a kick of red chile, the only thing I wish I could have tried was his take on sauerkraut.  Served with his overcooked bratwurst, he sliced red cabbage and sauteed it with the Ivanhoe along with sugar to caramelize.  Later he added a little red wine vinegar, mustard seeds and chopped tomatoes.  I’m going to remake that this week and post the recipe.  I was so excited for his manchego fondue, until it curdled and looked like shit on the judge’s table.  Angerer ended up winning by 2 points, I was pretty disappointed in both for messing up the best secret ingredient I’ve seen yet.

(Bad quality because it’s a JetBlue screen..sorrrrry)