For those that know me for my need to destroy those Food network Celebrity “chefs” that I find to be lacking in culinary skills of any kind, this post will most likely shock and amaze you. This week’s Thirteen focuses on someone I highly admire, not only for her skills as a chef, but for her efforts in the war on world hunger.
Most of you probably know Chef Cora either as the food network’s only female Iron Chef, or as the Executive Chef of Bon Appetite Magazine, but there is more to the story than that. She is also the author of a new cookbook “Cooking From the Hip: Fast, Easy, Phenomenal Meals
What more can I say than that? Read on to find out!
Thirteen Things I love about chef Cat Cora
- Cat had a business plan prepared for her first restaurant at the age of 15
- Aside from being the first Iron Chef on food Network, Cat was also co-host of the Mediterranean episodes of Food Network’s now defunct “Melting pot” show, opposite this other little known chef by the name of Rocco DeSpirito.
- Chef Cora’s cooking style resembles my own, in that she may be laughing and joking with staff one minute, but the next she’s ripping a full side of beef asunder as though she were afraid it would run off on her. She’s focused, determined and mighty handy with that knife. Not someone you want to cross in the kitchen!
- Cat’s favorite music to listen to while cooking is ColdPlay. (And in respect to that, I’ve got them playing right now.)
- Cat’s favorite condiment is her Grandmother Alma’s homemade Hot Sweet Mustard. (mine is my Grandmother’s White Zinfandel Jelly, great for pork!)
- In 2004 Chef Cora founded Chefs For Humanity, an organization that gathers the culinary community together to raise funds and provide resources for important emergency, educational and hunger-related causes.
- Chef Cora was named Teacher of the Year in November 2006 by Bon Appetite Magazine, she says that it was“the greatest recognition she could receive as a chef.”
- She’s just one damned handsome figure of a woman. (Oooh, I’m gonna get smacked for that one!)
- Cat has lived all over the world, but eventually fell in love with, and settled in Northern California’s Wine Country. I know exactly why she chose that location, I was raised there and I miss it every single day of my life.
- If you’ve ever watched Chef Cora on an Iron Chef Episode, you would know why I love her abilities. As someone who “cooks from the seat of my Pants” each and every day, I can fully appreciate the difficulty of those competitions. She never seems flustered, she simply grabs ahandful of something and creates a meal around it.
- Cat’s Preferred Chef’s knives are Japanese Chef Knifes by Korin Japanese Trading Co., and while I prefer my Katana series knives from Calphalon (for the fit of the pommel), I can understand her love of this style blade. It’s the sharpest thing I’ve ever used.
- I read an interview on the methods she used to introduce her son to the tastes of new foods. Not only was I impressed by her tact, I was also impressed by the fact that her 3 year old only refuses one food… Bananas!
- She finishes every Iron Chef Battle with a shot of Ouzo. It makes me want to cook a meal with her just because of that!
Chef Cora impresses me for all of these reasons and more. It’s quite obvious that she was born to be in the industry she chose and that she takes great pride in what she does. The fact that she has taken those efforts far beyond the kitchen and herself merits applause, an I for one am giving them.
Good work, Chef Cora!
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She has always been my least favorite of the chefs, but your list is an eye-opener! Happy TT!
I’ve never heard of her but she does seem easy on the eye. The only TV chef I watch is Ramsay.
This is the first I’ve heard of her. Happy TT!
Well this makes me want to eat the meal you cook with her! Happy TT…
I’d never heard of her before, but then I avoid anything that might deal with cooking.
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
Those are good reasons to like her I love to cook
I have heard her name but that is about it.
Thanks for sharing. I’d never heard of her (I don’t have cable TV, which may be why).
I will watch Iron Chef if I ever see her on there. I knew nothing of her until tonight.
Happy TT!
I love Iron Chef!
I’ve been a huge fan for quite some time. This woman deserves all she’s received and more. Passion & Skill, that’s C. Cora.
And speaking of handsome women. I was watching Hondo yesterday, had the day off with Tiny E. He played First Life 2 and I watched the TV. Towards the beginning, El Dorado asked at the army encampment if a “handsome woman and young boy” had come through. I didn’t know what he was talking about until I saw her, and it fit.
While I’m not going to give you shit, Cora don’t come off as a handsome woman. Be it man, woman or lizard, she’ll fillet your ass without a second thought. John’s love interest was certainly a handsome woman.
Biggles
She sounds like someone worth watching. I know folks who STUDY these programs and cook like the best. I’ll have to bounce her name around. Now I know something!
Iron Chef is so fun to watch!
Okay, now I have to go find out more about her!
Another chef I’ve never heard of. I’m glad you like her. I can go check her book out from the library. I have a friend who was telling me about a cookbook and I wondered what you thought! lol! You have such power!
Happy TT!
Miss Wisabus,
Of all, I think my absolute favorite is Morimoto, followed by Batali, but Cora comes in before Flay and Simon. from what I see of the way she cooks, I know I’d prefer her food over Bobby’s, and Simon is too into the gadget-based cooking methods so prevalent now for my taste.
Nicholas, Sue,
Now you’ve heard…
ellen b,
I’d prolly be to smashed to walk, LOL!
SJ Reidhead,
FOR Shame! Cook! Cook and LIVE!
marcia v,
There aren’t too many on Fod Network I enjoy, so I tout ‘em when I find them.
Cricket’s Hearth,
You’re one up son some then, apparently.
Buck Naked Politics,
How do you keep up on Politics without cable or Sat???
Natalie,
Please do, she’s a blast to watch!
Lady Rose,
Me too. Never miss watching it.
Biggles,
Wow, we finally agree on sommat!
If you’re alking about te Duke in Louis l’amour’s Hndo, then yep, Geraldine Page was most definitely a handsome woman!
I think Cat is very attractive. Then again, my wife could fillet me just as quickly :D
SandyCarlson,
I don’t study them, but I watch closely, mostly studying technique and ingredient pairings.
Melanie,
You said it!
momhuebert,
check out her website http://www.catcoracooks.com
Caludia,
Me? Power?
*Bwahahahahahahahahahahah! They’ve fallen for my evil plan!*
Oh, crud! Did I say that out loud??
I think everyone should wind up their cooking with a shot of ouzo!
Hay,
You can either accept, or decline. But you’ve been tagged over at Meathenge for a Meme.
xo, Biggles
ROFL. Doc, you crack me up.
Mr. SoMP…Honey, you shouldn’t spread such ridiculous rumors about me. I’m much more skilled with an Ulu than a filet knife. *WEG* All kidding aside, I’m a huge fan of Cat’s cooking and humanitarian endeavors. She’s a really amazing women.
Interesting facts – I’ve seen her on Iron Chef and always enjoy watching the dishes she creates for the show but I didn’t know her resume.
Thanks for sharing.
CAN’T STAND HER…just another phony, no talent, foodtv clone…
AND PLEASE,can there be a new cookbook by someone other that foodtv nitwits…they all should be called “cooking 101″…or “how not to cook”. Julia Child, Artusi Pellegrino and Escoffier are turnjing over in their graves
I am always looking for great new cookbooks for different ideas and recipes. This looks like a really good one that has some actual meaning behind it! Thanks for the tip!