Initial judging half-baked at Iron Chef contest

Matt Tygett thought he was just another victim of two-time defending Iron Chef champ John Jenkins. Losing by less than a point, he would pack up his cutlery set and go back to Mollie's.

But in a turn of events that will forever be remembered in local Iron Chef lore, Tygett learned several hours later that he won the event.

And by doing so, he can proudly wear the white Iron Chef jacket and black Iron Chef hat the former champ had tried on hours earlier.

The friendly competition, sponsored by Chartwells catering at Southeast Missouri State University, is based on the Japanese television show "Iron Chef," which is dubbed into English and airs on the Food Network in the United States. It pits one chef's ability against another -- with a few twists.

Neither local chef, nor their two assistants, knew in advance what ingredients they would have to work with Monday until they arrived.

So the rabbit and cactus presented challenges.

Both chefs were to fix as many dishes as possible for a multicourse meal, including at least one vegetarian dish. The point readjustment came when judges realized one of Jenkins' dishes, the cactus dessert, did not contain enough protein to be classified as a true vegetarian dish. And one of the judges did not reward Tygett for using rabbit in one of his dishes. That gave him another point and the ultimate victory.

"I'm happy about it," Tygett said. "I guess I get the hat and the jacket. And I get to do it again next year."

As for Jenkins, he took the loss like a champ.

"You got to be fair in competition," he said. "It was a mistake, and it needed to be rectified. Matt did a good job. My hat's off to the guy."

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635