Battle 3: vs. MINI ME (Karma Sutra Shrimp)

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Uh...oh... apparently my quest to make it onto TV has drawn the ire of MINI ME (sans sharks with laser beams)!

* CELEBRITY BATTLE *

 

TALE OF THE TAPE:

QUINJA:  2-1-1

MINI ME (Celebrity Battler on behalf of C-Fu (Seafood)):  0-0-0

1 lb of 20/25-sized "Shrimp."

Entourage: 
Olive Oil, Seasonings (salt and pepper), Cumin, White Wine, MINI Skewers (for plating)

Battle Time:  30 minutes

Inspired by Top Chef Masters: Season 3 (Shout out to Floyd Cardoz!)...  Chef Floyd makes Kuma Sutra Shrimp and Watermelon (that looks like Salmon Sashimi) for the "Date Night" episode where Floyd attempts to playback a memory of a young couple's dating past - yes, the girl's first time eating sushi!  For romantics out there, the guy proposes at the end... does she say "yes" though?  Hey, we ninjas gotta maintain our cloud of mystery!


Floyd seasons very aggressively bringing the "heat" of the relationship in his Kuma Sutra Shrimp!
The QuinJa believes that "all being should be peaceful and happy" (remember, I do talk about yoga) so I am inspired to make Karma Sutra Shrimp...



1. Clean the shrimp.  Remember to devein!
2. Olive oil in a pan.
3. Add shrimp.
4. Add salt and pepper and cumin (to taste).
5. Let the shrimp sear for a little bit.
6. Deglaze with white wine.

Right before plating.

As Bill and Ted would say... "69!"  Makes for a great appetizer... the Shrimp are sharing good Karma by "hugging it out."

VICTORY FOR THE QUINJA!

Food Network Star - Season 8 - Here Comes a New Challenger

It's my first "Test of Might" and here are some of my responses to the 11-page application...

If I were an ingredient, I would be...  Why would you be that ingredient?

Cilantro: Small herb that packs a punch - just like me!  Also, love or hate, people have strong opinions on it!

Bonus: For any of you that have tasted, cilantro is one of the ingredients of "The Clan's" egg rolls!

Why do you want your own Food Network show?  Example: Have something to share, for your family, to be famous... Why would it be different from any show on the air?

Show: "Q&A"ppetizers - With the struggling economy, I want to convert gourmet entrees into more quantity - shrink to appetizer size so people can throw more parties!  I want to remind people that spending time with loved ones is worth more than luxury items or fancy vacations!  Plus, I'll answer questions!

UPDATE:
8am - Westin Hotel (DC)... I am number 7 in line.  I meet a Sous Chef from Clyde's at Tower Oaks... he apparently is also a professional Forager - his must've earned his ninja badge in woodland survival!
9am - Geisha Ninja arrive!  (Yes, if I were a seriously beautiful woman, I guess I would go to any and all auditions as my chance to get "discovered."  "Ninja + Discovery" = oxymoron, right?
10am - There's about 50 people and it's the official start of the interviews.  I run into LR - one of Master Chef's assistants while I was at L'Academie.  Apparently, Master Chef is going to be trying out!  [Note: In a straight up culinary duel, there is no way I can defeat Master Chef; however, this competition is not purely judged on "taste" --- I plan on winning on sheer audacity!

I enter the interviewing arena wearing my judo gi and confidently retell the story of myself and the Cooking-Dojo (look for the "Introduction" posts - May-June 2011).

"Why do you want to compete?"
To fulfill my dad's last request, I got a PhD in chemical engineering (Yes, an epic tale akin to those classic Hong Kong martial arts movies... a tale of death, revenge, boss battles, etc...instead of swords and secret arts scrolls, it's pencils and lab notebooks).  My mom is a cook and it's time to do something to honor her.  Secondly, umm... I'm wearing a judo gi, I'm here TO BEAT THE COMPETITION!

Alas, they did not call me back to cook my signature dish for them to taste!  Next time... I gotta put the Osoto-Gari (Large Outer Reaping) or O-Goshi (Large Hip Throw) on the casting girl!