Iron Frog #1 - the Randwick Challenger

Whose cuisine reigns supreme?

At last, the Randwick Challenger pits his dish against those from Port Moresby and Waramanga. Will he win the people's ovation and fame forever? Or better still, be crowned Iron Frog?

Working from a humble kitchen, the Challenger begins by mixing a deep yellow batter enriched by the freshest of farm laid eggs.

(Sources tell me it was very yellow despite the pale appearance here).

Lamb and rosemary flavoured 'toads' were first browned...

And then turned into manageable chunks before meeting their respective ponds.Meanwhile, the challenger and his mum also whip up a great looking salad. With fennel for that extra crunch.

But back to the stove... and now you can really see the influence of those eggs in the golden batter that emerges.

The dish is plated by the Challenger and the frogs gather admiringly around the plate.

Like the Warmanga Challenger, young Darcy cleans as he goes and so the mess is ... barely there. But perhaps an eco-point or two can be deducted for that disposable tray.

Turns out the dish is a first for the Gilmour family who have no previous exposure to Toads (how's that for innovation?). But it is declared a winner and there are plans to repeat the experience.

Score

Flavour

The Toad Novices (Mum, Darcy and Hugh) were all very impressed. Apparently toads fed on lamb and rosemary taste pretty fine when wrapped in golden batter. So good that Hugh took the leftovers to work the next day for lunch.

5/5

Presentation

A well greased pan meant that the Toads slipped easily onto the plate and were flanked by a salad so fresh it could have walked in out of the garden if they had one at Ronald Macdonald House. However, the winning touch was in the wine match. As Mum Megan reported, "Toad in the Hole is not complete without Inigo".

4/5

Innovation

Although a new dish for the Gilmours, the question remains, was there anything innovative about the Randwick Challenger's approach? Darcy reports the choice of BBQ sauce over tomato, and of course the addition of fennel to the salad should be taken into account.

(I also like the innovation of the frog with reversible hips able to hang over the side of the bowl. Nice one - although I don't know you get any points for it.)

2.5/5

Mess

The Challenger used the minimal amount of dishes and cleared as he went (a la Waramanga rules) as well as doing all the washing up. Should the jar of chutney smashed by mum be taken into account? Or does it not count as the smashing happened post-toad? And what about that disposable tray?

4/5

Total

15.5/20

Ladies and Gentlemen, it appears that in round one of Iron Frog, Darcy's cuisine reigns supreme.

Stay tuned for next month's challenge.

What will it be?

Fruit and Nut Bog Frogs?

Welsh Ribbit?

Spawn Cocktail?