From Angus Barn to 'Iron Chef'

Chef Walter Royal of Angus Barn restaurant is sharpening up his knives and his reflexes. On Monday, the award-winning chef will enter New York's version of Kitchen Stadium as a contestant in the third season of "Iron Chef America" on the Food Network.

Based on a wildly popular Japanese show, "Iron Chef" pits such famous TV chefs as Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Masaharu Morimoto and Cat Cora against each other and other worthy opponents.

Just as in the original show, two chefs have to create a menu of dishes using a secret ingredient that is revealed at the start of the one-hour show. The judges taste the results and score them based on taste, originality and presentation.

Although the show's producers have not revealed the secret ingredient, "they have given me three choices of what it might be," Royal says.

Ha. You didn't think he was going to tell, did you?

This season, 23 chefs from across the country were invited to compete. Royal is the only chef from the Carolinas to be selected.

The new season starts Feb. 26, but the air date of Royal's episode has not been announced yet. Stay tuned.

Tasty podcast

At Duke University, she is known as Kelly Amienne, visiting instructor in the English department.

But on the Web, this scholar of food and 16th- and 17th-century literature is known as Anne Bramley. And, as Bramley, she took home the award for best podcast at the Podcast and Portable Media Expo in Ontario, Calif.

A podcast is a do-it-yourself radio show distributed over the Internet and listened to on computers, MP3 players or iPods.

Bramley, who is from central Missouri, calls her podcast, Eat Feed (www.eatfeed.com) "the food podcast that takes you back in time, across the country, around the world, and back to your own table." Similar to a public radio show, Eat Feed includes segments on food history and recipes from around the world.

Eat Feed celebrates its first anniversary this month. Not surprisingly, its very first topic combined the major interests of the literature and food scholar. It was called "At Shakespeare's Table."

An outlet for your yen

It happens over the holidays: Some well-meaning friend or relation enrolls you in the Harry and David fruit of the month club and before you know it, you're hooked on Royal Riviera pears.

But instead of salivating at the sound of the Federal Express truck in your neighborhood, lucky Triangle residents can pick their own fruit and other gourmet items in Johnston County. A Harry and David outlet operates in Smithfield at Carolina Premium Outlets (989-1168). Sure, you'll spend a little money on gas, but think of what you'll save on shipping, not to mention the sales that aren't available online. Check out www.wow-coupons.com for 10 percent off printable coupons for the store, good through March.

Morocco on Jones

In 2003, Moroccan-born Samad Hachby hosted a "feast of the senses" at Helios coffee shop on Glenwood Avenue, with a menu of international dishes that he cooked himself. At the time, Hachby said he had learned about food "by traveling and being a hedonist."

Now Hachby is poised to open a club, also in the Glenwood South area, at 517 W. Jones St. Mosaic Wine et Lounge (www.mosaicwinelounge.com) will have Moroccan-themed decor, an extensive wine list and DJs spinning electronic and world music.

"It will have a bazaar feel," says Hachby of his lounge. But so far, no kitchen. Instead, Hachby is considering small plates catered by "a restaurant of the month."