Not-So-Iron Fanboy: Cooking Guide Cook-Off
by Alisha Karabinus 
{ Jul 22nd 2008 at 12:30PM }
As soon as the Cooking Guide was released in English, we here at DS Fanboy understood one thing: it was necessary that we put the software to the test in a bloody, violent, no-holds-barred, steel cage cook-off the likes of which would put Iron Chef (both versions) to shame. Sadly, budget constraints (and, uh, laws) prevented the sort of Thunderdome-esque event we hand in mind, though, so instead, we're just having a normal cook-off. One hobbyist cook. One bachelor. One shot at three recipes, supported by the Cooking Guide. Will they be able to produce the same meal, with the same results? Will the Guide serve as a workable cookbook for the knowledgeable, and an aid for those who aren't? We put it to the test.
The chefs
Alisha Karabinus
Chris Greenhough
The recipes
Chicken Teriyaki (Japan)
Haricots vert sautés au beurre (France)
Bônet (Italy)
The (non)game
Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat?
Read on to find out how the DS Fanboy "chefs" fared with the Cooking Guide. We'll follow up later with impressions of the title as a whole.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jimmijam @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:22PM
Aside from the hilarity, this pretty much illustrates that cooking is a skill, not a recipe (eh? eh?).
Hey Chris - I think you oughta start a separate blog, just on your cooking antics! In fact, I'd wager if you cooked from the Cooking Guide on a regular basis, like any skills, yours will improve too. Begin to hone your skills for an ultimate demonstration of your new mastery of the kitchen on Thanksgiving 2008! It could be a glorious day... or an epic disaster.
The drama is already killing me.
Alisha Karabinus @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:46AM
Help me get him to retry his Bônet!
Kimiko @ Jul 22nd 2008 2:29PM
Great article, you two! ^_^
Nice to see your two different takes on the same recipes side by side.
Those cookies were hard to find? Hmm, I think I know where to find them locally. Hat off to Alisha for creating such a delicious-looking dessert from the ingredients.
The marinating chicken looks good too. *goes over fridge contents in her mind* Maybe later this week..
Green beans fried in butter? Why not use oil?
You know, maybe a good idea would be for the Cooking Guide to include something like "If this recipe looks too complicated for you, try this (link) easier one first". I mean, the Bônet seems a bit too hard for someone who has never baked a cake or something like that before.
Oh, and little Jack is cute ^_^
Alisha Karabinus @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:48AM
He is SO cute that it's just disgusting. :)
I can only guess that Amaretti cookies just aren't popular here. Couldn't find any sort of macaroons. It was very odd... I almost just broke down and made the cookies myself, but I was laaaaazy.
As for butter over oil... I dunno, ask the French!
Salty Soil @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:09PM
Oh my. The Chris!bonet made me laugh so hard I was clutching my stomach. I guess I shouldn't have seen Alisha's first >_<
At least with kitchen mistakes you can just throw it out and start from scratch. Like a roguelike.
I wonder if the NA version of Cooking Guide still includes metric for those of us Canadians?
Alisha Karabinus @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:46AM
That's a good question. Maybe it'll have both? That would be neat, if you could just set it. Maybe it's in this one. I'll go look!
BlackDS @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:54AM
... and the chef who's cuisine reigns supreme is ...
Iron Chef Alisha Karabinus (okay play the taped applause ...).
Everything Alisha cooked looks delicious.
I'm sold. Awaiting the North American localization ...
Brave effort Chris, if it was me - the photos would have magically gotten lost. :)
Peace.
JMacGill @ Oct 4th 2008 1:43PM
Chris, this is why you need a to find yourself a woman.