I'm with you on ICA, the original was good, but sometimes the original had secret ingredients you couldn't pay me to eat.

Chopped is taking top spot with me as of late. I do my best to never miss it, and I even watch the repeats. There's something distinctly more “real” about this competition, and it isn't just the lack of celebrity chefs. Perhaps it's because on many occasions when I've opened the fridge, I've felt like those chefs must when they open their baskets. I forget what's there, forget that I need to go shopping and now I've a hungry wife and 45 minutes to prepare something from leftover rice, ahi tuna and whatever is in the pantry. Sometimes you strike gold and come up with wasabi-pea encrusted tuna with fried rice. And sometimes…well, sometimes you make something the dog would be offended to eat.

But the idea of recreating an ICA recipe sounds great! Now if only they'll feature a secret ingredient that I actually like. The episodes I catch usually have things like durian fruit, squid eyeballs or clam entrails or some other nauseating item.

And Ace of Cakes – Da Bomb!