Ep 27. Morimoto vs. Zakarian

Morimoto, the Iron Chef who is known for his traditional Japanese cooking methods, goes up against Zakarian, a French-American chef who specializes in modern American cuisine. The two chefs will battle it out in Kitchen Stadium to see who can create the most delicious dishes using secret ingredients.

As the episode starts, both chefs are given their secret ingredient: snails. Morimoto is confident in his ability to cook with this ingredient since he has been working with it for years, while Zakarian is excited about the challenge of using an ingredient he is less familiar with.

The battle begins and both chefs start cooking frantically using their unique culinary skills. Zakarian is employing his signature style of using modern techniques and playfully adds a dash of American flavor to his dishes. Meanwhile, Morimoto is focused on showcasing his traditional roots by employing age-old Japanese cooking techniques.

As the competition progresses, the judges are becoming more and more impressed by the chefs' creations. Host Alton Brown is there to frame every dish and adds some witty commentary to the proceedings. The judges are mostly food bloggers and critics, who are well-versed in the culinary arts, and they leave no stone unturned in their analysis of each dish.

The judges are impressed with the variety of dishes, but they are also curious about how well the chefs have executed them. While Zakarian is serving up snail custard, Morimoto counters with a snail soup, but the judges feel that Zakarian's dish is more adventurous. Morimoto is not fazed, as he continues to showcase his culinary skills and dishes that incorporate the secret ingredient flawlessly.

As the clock ticks down, both chefs are racing against the clock to put the finishing touches on their culinary masterpieces. The aroma of sizzling dishes fills the air, and the chefs' nerves are on high alert as they present their dishes to the judges.

The judges are bowled over by the delicacy and flavors of Morimoto's dishes, but Zakarian's ingenuity in using the secret ingredient is also noted. The winner is to be decided based on cumulative marks for taste, presentation, and originality.

As the scores are tallied up, the tension rises and the commentary from the judges is almost as thrilling as the competition itself. The chefs hold their breath as the master of ceremonies announces the winner. Who will it be? Find out in this exciting episode of Iron Chef America!