Food Network
Philadelphia's Jose Garces (left) goes up against Jehangir Mehta in the finale of "The Next Iron Chef."
Inqlings: 'Iron Chef' a Philly vs. N.Y. duel
The Food Network's The Next Iron Chef has been narrowed to two contestants, and the finale on Sunday will come down to a cooking duel between Philly and New York: chef-restaurateur Jose Garces (Amada, Tinto, Chifa, Distrito, Village Whiskey) and Jehangir Mehta, who owns only one restaurant (Graffiti in the East Village).
Contact columnist Michael Klein at 215-854-5514 or mklein@phillynews.com. Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/insider. He's also on Twitter: @phillyinsider.
The men reached the finale during 10 days of elimination rounds in Japan, where the Iron Chef series originated.
The winner will be added to the stable of Iron Chefs and will take on challengers on Iron Chef America. (As a challenger last year, Garces beat Bobby Flay.)
In a chat yesterday, Garces and Mehta shared their different approaches to the final battle, which took place in the States and was taped months ago.
For Garces, who brought along his sous chefs Chad Williams and Tim Spinner, it was prepping for war. "I . . . felt it was important to let go of a few things," Garces said. "My managers and chefs were gracious enough to let me take care of things."
The day before, Mehta chose instead to visit a friend in the hospital: "I would rather spend four hours giving personally than being in a battle."
The outcome is a secret. One, then, should not make anything of Garces' viewing party at Distrito in West Philly.
'The People Speak'
Darryl McDaniels and Lupe Fiasco will appear at Penn's Irvine Auditorium at 7 tonight to perform live readings from The People Speak, a documentary premiering on History on Dec. 13. The work is based on Howard Zinn's books A People's History of the United States and Voices of a People's History. The evening will conclude with a discussion led by Penn prof Tukufu Zuberi with McDaniels, Fiasco, and executive producer Chris Moore. Doors open at 6 p.m.; it's free.
Radio activity
Friday will be the finale for Tom Collins, who's voiced weeknight nighttime traffic on KYW Newsradio for the last three years. New job with PennDot.Joey Fortman, a host of Better Philly on MyPHL, put down a bid at Friday's "Signature Chefs" event for the March of Dimes at the Please Touch Museum. Her prize: a one-hour appearance on the Eagles pregame show with Bill Bergey and Kevin Reilly on CBS's WYSP. Fortman's husband is Matt Nahigian, program director of the sports-talk station 97.5 "the Fanatic," archrival of CBS-owned WIP. Rather than possibly exploit family ties, Fortman says she plans to donate the prize to MomSpace, a Web site/magazine she works with.
Charitably speaking
Phillies pitcher Ryan Madson and Eagles tight end Brent Celek will work their bowling arms tomorrow at a $100-a-head fund-raising event for Variety, the Children's Charity, at Pinsetter Lanes (7111 Maple Ave. in Pennsauken). Registration starts at 6 p.m.; details: www.varietyphila.org.Celek is due to join teammates Jon Dorembos and Chris Gocong at a $50-a-head benefit for the nonprofit Arc/Philadelphia Developmental Disabilities Corp. at Ladder 15 (1528 Sansom St.) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Contact columnist Michael Klein at 215-854-5514 or mklein@phillynews.com. Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/insider. He's also on Twitter: @phillyinsider.
