Iron Chef on speed
Yesterday at the DC Improv, the Food Network’s Robert Irvine filmed an episode of “Dinner: Impossible”. For those of you not aware of the premise of the show, Irvine is tasked with cooking for a large number of people in a limited amount of time.

Throwing an improvisational theme into the show, Irvine made a gourmet meal for 200 people using some very strange ingredients offered up by the improv students – ramen noodles, Hot Pockets and Brussels sprouts were among the ingredients – while using three students as sous chefs (no easy feat).

Our very own DCist Shawn Westfall is a teacher at the Improv and participated as a plater and server. After the meal, Irvine played a few improv games. According to Westfall, he’s a funny guy, noting, “he’s as big in person as he looks on TV.” It must take a sense of humor to tempura the Hot Pockets. As for the rest… you’ll just have to tune in when they air the show. We’ll try and let you know when the episode is scheduled.

Celebrate the New Year, again
Gong xi fa cai! Gong hay fat choy! Chuc mung nam moi! Happy Lunar New Year! Despite its more common moniker, the New Year is not just a holiday for the Chinese, but also for the Vietnamese, Koreans, and many other eastern Asian countries. So aside from taking in the Chinatown parade this Saturday, now is prime time for eating special treats to celebrate the holiday.

For a traditional food, try noodles, which represent longevity. Just make sure you don’t cut them or that means you are shortening your life. Or you can try rice cakes, nian gao in Chinese or duk in Korean. In addition to being tasty, the small treats are eaten during the New Year because its Chinese name is a homonym for “a prosperous year.” Unlike the popcorn-like rice cakes of America, these glutenous ovals and cylinders also show up in savory dishes, such as stews and soups. The sweet versions are flavored with coconut milk or mung beans, which you can find at the Chinese grocery stores, Maxim and Kam Sam, in Rockville.

If you want a restaurant celebration, you can visit Bob’s Noodle 66 with 10-12 of your closest friends for a set Chinese New Year’s menu, or visit the Eden Center to see if anyone is making thit ko, a special Vietnamese stew. Hunt around cheaper Korean restaurants and Korean grocery stores for prepared duk buk ki.

Shawn Westfall contributed to this post.