
Update: The arugula files was awarded runner up in battle #2 of foodie fights. Congratulations to the winner, Brake for Bread. Make sure to check out BFB's entry: a pulled pork sandwich with rhubarb coriander sauce. Hey you standing on the sidelines, sign up for the next foodiefight.
Food fight! This week, I'm a blogtestant at foodiefights, the brainchild of Macheesmo and TFIMB. The battle is between six bloggers who have to prepare one course using two secret ingredients. Basically, it's Iron Chef for food bloggers. You won't get to taste the food, but you can look at it, read the blog posts, and, if you want, lick your computer screen. Oh, and after you check out all of the dishes, you should vote for your fave dish (pick me, me, me!). Scroll to the end for the "voting booth." You can also visit the foodie fights website.
The secret ingredients for this battle? Rhubarb and coriander.
When I found out I was selected to participate in this week's foodie fight, and that the ingredients were rhubarb and coriander, my work productivity level dropped to zero. I couldn't think about anything except what to make: chutney, rhubarb gumbo, rhubarb sorbet, cheesecake with rhubarb and coriander compote... The obvious choices were chutney or pie. Both are delicious, but I wanted to make something I've never made. I sent an email to my foodie friends for feedback, and was surprised by the response. It went something like this, "Rhubarb? Bleh! " or "What the heck does coriander taste like?"
Really? I looooove rhubarb. Admittedly, it's tart, but let me introduce you to rhubarb's little helper: sugar. And, coriander? Well, coriander taste like pepper with a citrus snap.
I really wanted to make a savory item, but I kept coming back to something sweet. And I'm not sure if you noticed, but the internets has a GIANT sweet tooth. And what the internets want, the internets get.
I present to you: orange-coriander ice cream and rhubarb pop-tarts.