"secret ingredients" news and stories

Though I usually enjoy watching shows like Iron Chef and the like, I often get jealous frustrated because of the vast array of food, seasonings, and condiments they have at their disposal. Let's face it, truffles, foie gras, and cinnamon oil don't exactly line my shelves on a regular basis. What is even more frustrating though is when I actually do want to buy some of these exotic ingredients, I can't seem to find them in any of my local markets.

After a bit of a search, I discovered this website which is helping to eliminate that problem - StarChefs.com has compiled a list of chef-recommended "secret ingredients" and where to buy them, making it easier to locate such items as avocado leaves, Mexican chocolate, black mustard seeds, white or black truffle powder and cream, duck confit, chestnut jam, rare cheeses, orange flower water, Tahitian vanilla extract, and smoked Sicilian tuna. Fortunately, even if you don't live near the specified stores (mostly New York or East Coast) many of the shops offer courier service so you can have the ingredients shipped right to your door.

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MSNBC has officially uncovered the secrets that make Iron Chef America work - and unlike the Amateur Gourmet, they don't seem to have been required to sign a nondisclosure agreement. The "secret" ingredient is chosen from a list of five possible ingredients that are given to the chefs prior to the filming of the show. While they don't generally know the actual one that will be used, the time they are given to plan certainly does not make it a surprise. To get the effect of a surprise, some scenes - including the reveal of the ingredient - are subject to multiple takes. The actually cooking time is still strictly held to 60 minutes, even though some ingredients may be simmering or nearly ready to use when the clock starts.

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