Fort Worth chef Tim Love reigns supreme on Iron Chef

by Teresa Gubbins

Courtesy: The Food Network

Chef Tim Love (center) and assistant chefs under the gun on Food Network.

Tim Love, chef-owner of Lonesome Dove, Duce, and Love Shack, won his challenge on Iron Chef, the Food Network show that pits visiting chefs against the show's panel of resident chefs.

The show, which premiered on May 20, had Love competing against Masaharu Morimoto with the mystery ingredient chiles.

Love opened his menu with a chile-infused margarita, followed by a surf-and-turf course, and a chocolate-chile cheesecake accompanied by a trio of teas that wowed judge Jeffrey Steingarten.

Morimoto confessed up front that he wasn't familiar with chiles, but still managed to lose by only one point.

Savvy viewers might wonder why Love didn't compete against chef Bobby Flay, whose strength in Southwestern cuisine makes him the more obvious foe but who is rumored to have rejected Love's request for a match-up. (A Food Network spokesman says he can't confirm that rumor.)

Love and his two assistant chefs wore cowboy hats and repeatedly interrupted the hour-long cooking contest with shots of Tuaca, the vanilla-flavored liqueur served at Duce.

Food Network will re-air the show numerous times on Thursday May 24 and Sunday May 27.

Click Here to check out Teresa Gubbins' weekly roundup of restaurant openings and closings. It's called "Best Bites" and it's only on Pegasus News

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kirk, says:

"Love v. Flay" ... sounds like a cover article for *S&M Monthly* rather than a failed match-up on Iron Chef.

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2 years, 6 months ago
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twisteddog, says:

Bobby Flay blows.

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2 years, 6 months ago
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jenn, says:

Ditto to that twisted. I hate that guy.

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2 years, 6 months ago
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DC, says:

I'll say watching him makes for poor television, but I would tend to prefer the sardonic Bourdain.

I have also had the unfortunate circumstance of eating at Mesa Grill both in NY and LV. Expensive and bad. At least it seems he married well.

I really feel for Morimoto, though, whenever I am stuck grating through ICA - he needs to just give the American judges what they want, hot dogs and Coors light (that's you, Paige).

The show just doesn't have the same crazed pace of Iron Chef, with the Chairman's outfits and the fact that the kitchen looked like it could catch fire at any time. Great stuff.