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THROWNDOWN with Bobby Flay: Meet Kent Rollins
South Texas Cowboy — Tue, 2010-10-26 14:00
Kent Rowlins RRR Chuck Wagon Catering
Food Network Bobby Flay Throws-down with Chuck Wagon Cook Kent Rollins as they roll up the sleeves in this throw-down becomes no ordinary hoe-down. Culinary Chef....vs.....Camp Cook....
Bobby Flay has a long history as a proven Chef and Celebrity hosting several TV shows including several with the Food Network. Today, Bobby has written several cook books and is the owner of 10 restaurants from New York City, Las Vegas and spanning to Nassau Bahamas.
Born as Robert William Flay in 1964, the forth generation Irish American got his start when he dropped out of school at a mere 17 years old. Bobby's father then partner with Joe Allen put the young man to work in the New York City kitchen. Joe Allen was so impressed with Bobby that he further sent him to the French Culinary Institute paying his tuition.
After culinary school, he started working as a sous-chef, quickly learning the culinary arts. Flay was handed the executive chef's position after a week when the executive chef was fired. Flay quit when he realized he was not ready to run a kitchen. He took a position as a chef working for restaurateur Jonathan Waxman at Bud and Jams. Waxman introduced Bobby to southwestern and Cajun cuisine, which came to define his culinary career. Flay has also added an extensive knowledge of Cajun and Creole styles to his recipe base.
Bobby Flay has proven his versatility of culinary skill becoming an Executive Chef. In 2000, Iron Chef show traveled to New York for a special battle where he challenged Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto in the feat of Rock Crab. After the hour battle ended, Flay stood on top of his cutting board and raised his arms in premature victory. Not realizing that cutting boards and knives are sacred in Japan, he offended Morimoto who criticized his professionalism, saying that Flay was "not a chef". Flay went on to lose the battle. Flay challenged Morimoto to a rematch in Morimoto's native Japan. In this battle, at the end of the hour, Flay threw his cutting board on the floor and stood on the counter yet again to raise the roof with the audience. However, this time, Bobby Flay won.
Though they share a heated past, Flay and Morimoto, who are now both Iron Chefs on Iron Chef America, are now friends. They even teamed up – and won – against fellow Iron Chefs Mario Batali and Hiroyuki Sakai in the Iron Chef America: Battle of the Masters "Tag Team" battle.
Kent Rollins born in southwest Oklahoma near the banks of the Red River growing up around cattle living the life as a Cowboy. His father, Ernest "Wash" Rollins established the wash brand in 1950. Wash was a cowboy and cattleman all his life where Kent learned many of his skills. Kent's Dad never attended formal education as a Veterinarian but was known as the "Cow-Doctor."
In 1993 Kent founded his own brand "RRR" purchasing the Red River Ranch of Byers, Texas. He also operates the Red River Ranch Chuckwagon Catering where he has master his dutch oven cooking skills. Appointed the Official Chuckwagon Cook of Oklahoma, by its Governor. He has also won the Lubbock, Texas, Chuckwagon Cook Off and the Will Rogers Award for Chuck Wagon of the Year in 1996, and was chosen as the 1997 Chuckwagon of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists. Additionally, Kent has been nominated three times for Best Story Teller by the Academy of Western Artists winning the award in 2002. Kent loves preserving the rich heritage of the Old West through his Chuck Wagon Catering, Cowboy Poetry and Stories told around the camp fires.
"I've cooked for brandings, weddings, corporate gatherings, Bar Mitzvah and even a bunch of Spandex Warriors…you know bicycle riders" state Kent who operates from the restored 1876 Studebaker Wagon.
Twice during the year, Kent takes time to conduct a Chuck Wagon Cooking school training students how to care and use cast iron cookware. The different use for skillets, dutch ovens where they learn simple tricks for making bread for 5 to 500. It's a primitive event for city folks who never have sat around a camp fire in the wilderness or sleep in a bed roll. Kent has had students come from various occupations and have traveled as far as London, England to attend this rustic adventure not listed with Culinary Institutes.
Slinging hash to talking bull, Kent knows how to roll his sleeves when it comes to cooking hearty meals. Traveling much of the year across the nation demonstrating his skills, Kent's menu includes entrees grilling New York Strip, Rib-eye Steak, Smoked Brisket and the thrown-down dish of Chicken Fried Steak. His secret ... "the double baptize" in the chicken batter and then you know "it's gonna be good!"
Kent who could not comment on the filming did take liberty to speak highly of Bobby Flay. "He's a soft spoken, likable guy," stated Kent. The episode will air October 27 Wednesday, 9PM/8C for this Hoe-down - Throw-down. Will Bobby Flay once more jump on top the butcher block with knives held into the air with victory or will it be the humble Cowboy standing over the smoke of burnt fire wood added another notch to his cast iron dutch oven? Either way, once the thrown-down is done, the food is still gonna' be good. You can visit more information about both individuals on You Tube or see Bobby Flay and the Food Network http://www.foodnetwork.com/ or read more about Kent Rollins and his cowboy poetry at http://kentrollins.com/
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Culinary Chef....vs.....Camp Cook....
South Texas Cowboy — Wed, 2010-10-27 23:22Food Network Bobby Flay Throws down with Chuck Wagon Cook Kent Rollins as they roll up the sleeves in this throw-down that becomes no ordinary hoe-down.
If you missed the Food Network's airing of the Bobby Flay Throw-Down episode that was shown Wednesday night, you missed out on some really great Cowboy entertainment. I enjoyed having something to view on the television since the World Series was also playing. However, while it was only the first game of the world series and Texas rangers getting a good whopping by the Giants, I felt good just having some Chuck Wagon cooking to watch.
The show starts off showing the life of Cowboy Cook "Kent Rollins working his ranch and cooking from the chuck wagon. Unlike most chuck wagon cooks, Kent has the help from his 350 pounds of "Bertha"....the name he politely calls his cast iron camp stove. Most cooks just dig a hole in the ground, throw in some wood and have the spit over the fire. However, not so with Kent Rollins. He unloads Bertha every where he goes.
After the producers take you through their commercial break, "Got to have those sponsors" the scenes take you into the New York Kitchen of Bobby Flay where he reviews the art of cooking "CHICKEN FRIED STEAK."
Bobby lists the three skills needed for the challenge; Beef, Batter and Gravy as he marks this on his presentation board in Red, White and Blue. His next step is doing several trail runs making and perfecting the art of cooking chicken fried steak with his assistant, who explains to Bobby that the gravy better not taste like wall paper paste. Bobby works his steak, dips into buttermilk, then into the batter mix. For the gravy, he decides to add some bacon in a skillet to set his rue that he will add milk and flour to adding thyme for some spicy flavoring.
Bobby's Flay married actress Stephanie March who is a native Texan born in Dallas walks in on the New York set joining Bobby just as he is ready to serve his practice dish of Chicken Fried Steaks. After a couple of bites it seems Bobby has his mo-jo going on as his Chicken Fried Steak will surely be fit for the toughest critic.
Back at the ranch, Kent take you through his special way of making his chicken fried steak better than anyone else. His secret "The double baptizing" dipping the steak twice through the batter to get it extra crispy. Although he doesn't reveal his spices.
The next scene takes us out to the chuck wagon setting with Bertha being feed logs of oak as Kent believes Food Network is just filming "Chuck Wagon Cuisine." As the guest gather around, Kent share's some stories and a little history unknowing that Bobby Flay just arrives in a Ford F-450 crew cab with a set of Longhorns mounted on the horn. To Kent's surprise as he turns around, Bobby now standing behind him say's,. "Ready for a Chicken Fried Steak throw-down." Kent's reply was "Lets get it on."
As the two men begin prepping setting up their work stations, the two share a great deal of humor. Bobby seem to be down home fitting in neighborly amazing the crowd of guest. As Bobby begins beating the steak to work it down, Kent humbly offers Bobby a 16 pound sledge hammer telling Bobby, "This should do the trick." Each through the show share a great sense of humor and likable characters.
Each working on a dozen or more beef ensuring their finish entree will be the best with Kent doing thicker larger cuts and Bobby thinning his out smaller. Through the special dips each worked out and into the large 20 inch cast iron skillets. After frying the special gravies added and served to the guest.
Special guest was Homer Robertson of Granbury, TX who is the 2010 Grand Champion of the National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration Chuck Wagon Cook-Off held last September in Lubbock, Texas. Joining Homer was Sue Cunningham of C Bar C, Hartley, Texas who is a legend around the chuck wagon community. Sue and her sister Jean Cates were raised on a ranch in Texas winning more Chuck Wagon Cooking awards than any other competitor. Additionally have written 3 Chuck wagon cooking Cook Books.
Homer and Sue sitting aside one another taste Chicken Fried Steak (A) that the thickness is good, the gravy is good but maybe a little spicy. Then trying out Chicken Fried Steak (B) again commenting that the taste of the steak and easily cuts, that the spicing is really good and while Robert likes the Bacon added in the gravy, Sue is not really sure. The crowd looks on patiently believing it looks like....is this going to be a draw.....no, does Bobby Flay have a victory......(A) Kent Rollins, Red river Ranch is announce as the victor in the throw down.
Hopefully you catch this repeated as a rerun later this season as this was one show not to miss. Food Network provides so many superb cooking shows and the enjoyable Bobby Flay may not be from Texas, but he's welcome back any time. His Culinary skills are truly those of an Iron Chef......although just the ever slight edge, Kent Rollins has the victory of the Iron Skillet as they both were superb.
Roger Edison
http://cowboyandchuckwagoncooking.blogspot.com/
THROW-DOWN Chuck Wagon Cook
South Texas Cowboy — Wed, 2010-12-01 14:14Here it is if you missed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D07rdkl3JAI
Roger Edison
http://cowboyandchuckwagoncooking.blogspot.com/