Iron Chef team crowned champions at Fall Classic

Pekin’s Iron Chef team were crowned champions at the 2023 Indian Hills Iron Chef Fall Classic that was held Friday, Oct. 27 at Indian Hills. After a day of preparing a three-course meal for the judges to sample, Pekin was declared the winner with 203 points. Central Lee finished second with 197, while Eddyville-Blakesburg took third with 193. Other schools with teams in the competition included New London, Mt. Pleasant, Ottumwa, and Fort Madison.

The theme for this competition was “Fruit” so Pekin adopted a Southern theme to their entry and added fruit to each course. The Pekin team also decided to prepare a rack of lamb for their competition entry, so they contacted Peyton Greiner at the Packwood Locker. Greiner bought four lambs, processed them, and donated eight racks to the Iron Chef team to use.

For Pekin’s appetizer, Isaac Gentry and Lexa Nelson made a cheesy polenta cake topped with pineapple bacon relish, shrimp, and an orange chili glaze.

The main course of garlic rosemary roasted rack of lamb topped with a mint pomegranate chimichurri sauce and a pomegranate balsamic reduction sauce served atop a bed of roasted butternut squash risotto was prepared by Lilian Buie and Kadence Brisby.

Haylea Oostra and Mackinzie Vannoy prepared a dessert of peach cobbler served with butter pecan ice cream with white chocolate pecan garnish and sculpted sugar spirals.

Alternate Kaleigh Adrian assisted with each course as needed.