Obama with chefs Comerford and
Sam Kass. Photo: Haraz N. Ghanbari, AP
The first lady introduces the secret ingredient for the challenge, which pits White House Chef Cristeta Comerford and Iron Chef Bobby Flay against Iron Chef Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse.
The White House approached the Food Network about filming "Iron Chef America" at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. as a way to reach those people who haven't heard yet about the first lady's efforts to curb childhood obesity through healthy eating and exercise, the New York Times reports.
Obama reveals that the secret ingredient for the challenge is anything grown in the White House garden, the Food Network said. The chefs harvest ingredients from the 1,100-square-foot garden before facing off in Kitchen Stadium.
The episode, which airs on Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. on the Food Network, features Jane Seymour, Nigella Lawson and Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin as judges.
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