Official video is now on YouTube

WHAT is going on JANUARY 3rd on Iron Chef America, did you see the previews during The Next Iron Chef? Mario Batali & Emeril (bam) will challenge Bobby Flay and Whte House Executive chef will battle in kitchen stadium on January 3rd. For a bit of a twist there will also be a special quest. I'm thinking it will me Michelle Obama. The reason why I say that is there is a picture of the four chefs leaving a garden with vegatables in their baskets. I did see on the nees a few months ago that 1st lady Michelle Obama had planted a garden at the White House. Of course Food Network did a great job at plugging the commercial inbetween "The Next Iron Chef" and their play on words hinted toward a big time "special" guest. This should keep them up in the rating, but htis time of year that should not be hard with Thanksgiving right around the corner and Christmas on the rise. I guess time will only tell as to who this mystery guest will be.

The grand finale, Chef Garces was crowned as the nest Iron Chef. During judging you could tell by the comments that chef Mehtag was not going to win. His dishes seem to be a bit rushed and too much. Even when chef Morimoto pointed out that chef Mehta's dishes seem to focus on doing too much rather than focusing on the main ingredient. Chef Mehta's tartar with guacamola sorbet happen to be the best dish enjoyed by the judges. That one dish could not overpower the five great dishes that chef Garces made.

Clearly chef Garces's dishes were clean and tasteful, but most said it lacked that "pop" in presentation. But when it came down to who they believe they could mold into a champion "Iron Chef" it was clearly chef Garces.

I believe one of the things that might have played against chef Mehta was how many times they had to censor his language ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. I am not that old fashion, just look at just about any reality show now-a-days and there are F-bombs everywhere. It really has become disturbing to watch television now a days. That's why I gravitate towards more of the HGTV, FOOD NETWORK, Travel Channel type of shows. But I bet as the Iron Chefs that were sitting there saw this type of language I am sure it played through their mind for judging. Judging should be all about the food and it was, but you are also on the biggest job interview you could ever be on.

Let's chalk it up to nerves and pressure of the challenge for the language. But it looked like chef Garces was a smooth operator around the kitchen stadium. Chef Mehta seems to create quite a mess and has proven to be like a ping pong ball in the wind during challenges. You can not mistake that chef Mehta's meals were full of taste throughout this challenge but did not land him his dream job

Labels: Garces, Mehta

I had to got to Charlotte, NC for training. So I got a 2010 Camry LE from our Rick Hendrick Toyota Rental Department. Since I currently drive a Camry SE I really did not expect much difference in my trip to Charlotte. The reason I bought my Camry SE is because my wife wanted a sportier looking mid-size sedan. Our SE came standard with the wrap-around spoiler package, larger alloy wheels, sporty honeycomb grille, and the dark charcoal interior. I really liked this car at the time because it was the car I was going to be driving after my wife got that itch for a new car, smart on my part. The Camry SE has that aggressive look and stance to it. We opted for the 6-disc with bluetooth and all the other gadgets.

Back to why I am writing this. The drive from Fayetteville to Charlotte was incredible in the new 2010 Camry LE. only used 4 gallons of gas (1/4 tank) to drive 156 miles, not bad. Toyota has not change much on the Camry since the newer 2007 body-style. But the difference in ride quality was so noticeable. I am not saying the Camry SE ride quality is bad, it is what it is a SPORT edition Camry.

(FLASHBACK) I remember a local college professor buying a Camry from me back in 2007. He called me at the dealership and said, "I want to trade my car in, but I don't think you can help me". Me being the patient sales person that I was, asked him what type of car he had? He said, "a brand new Black 2007 Camry SE with 1100 miles on it, I have only made one payment on her". I let him know that it should not be a problem and set the appointment for him to meet me at the dealership. Long story short, it was the ride quality he was after not the sport feel, but the sporty look he had to have. I explained the difference in the SE's sport tuned suspension and the stiffer roll bars and frame braces, along with taller alloy wheels and smaller tires was not giving him what he wanted in ride quality. I test drove him in a Camry LE and man you see a huge sigh of relief when he was behind the wheel

I had that sigh of relief a little myself on my drive to Charlotte. Not saying I no longer like my SE but after owning the SE for 3 years now I think I'm feeling the itch too. There is no mistaking the beauty of a SE Camry it is just a sexy car no matter how you look at it. But my wife just got an Avalon and now I am driving the SE (as I planned I would 3 years ago). I feel I am getting more into the ride quality than appearances now.

The seats in the SE holds you snug because they give you that race car feel. The seats in the LE on the other hand feel so warm and inviting. The 4-spoked steering wheel on the LE gives you that opening at the bottom for that one-handed driving experience on long trips, (kids don't try this at home; remember 10 - 2 o'clock hand placement). I now remember why I fell in love with the Camry. I see why millions of Americans love calling the Camry theirs. You should experience the Camry for yourself and find out which Camry fits you.

Camry, Camry LE, Camry SE, Camry XLE, Camry Hybrid: 5 winning choices, how could you lose

Labels: Toyota Camry

Labels: logo, Toyota

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Supposedly south eastern Toyota area will be receiving only 14% ratio of the new Trail Edition compared to the SR5 and the Limited 4runners for 2010. Many people have e-mailed me wanting to see my videos of the 2010 Trail edition and photos. It looks like this is going to be a very sort after vehicle.

We took the demo vehicle to the Uwharrie National Forest for our ROCKVEMBER 4x4 benefit show. There was a small trail at the Uwharrie Stables where we had the event. The 4Runner went up and down the trail with ease. Not sure yet on how many we are expected to receive before the end of the year but the first one we have coming in this month has already sold.

I like the Sport Edition 4Runners, they had charactor, but they must make way for the new Trail editions.

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Bye bye chef Mullen. Last night's show was awesome. Three chefs left battling for their dream job with The Food Network as an Iron Chef. when it gets down to three people it gets harder and harder to eliminate someone. I believe the one thing that blew it for chef Mullens was his rice was not prepared well. When you battling in Japan, not getting your rice to the proper texture is crucial. Even one of the judges asked him, what is the ratio of rice to water. At that point chef Mullen's had to know that he was sunk.

Chef Mehta's presentation was over the top, one judge defended his presentation by saying it was an outward extension of who he is. While the other argued that this challenge was about restraint and he missed the mark regardless of how great his food tasted. There was no clear winner in last night's challenge but next week will be the deciding factor.

It is back to kitchen stadium for the last battle of the series. It will have to be hard for one person to have to walk away from kitchen stadium as a loser. But to the victor goes the spoils. my cellphones will be off, and I am pulling the house phone plug out the wall next Sunday night at 9pm

Labels: Garces, Iron Chef America, Mehta, Mullen, The Next Iron Chef

http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75841 …. 7 pages full of pics on this one so make sure you go thru each page!!

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/south-east/45123-southeast-region-trail-meet-ure-nf-nov-6-8-a-11.html

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rockvember&search_type=&aq=f This whole you tube page is our event…pretty cook stuff!!

http://s886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/joeajones/

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/AcRiteTeggy1/Rockvember%2009/?start=all

http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/siegzook/?action=view&current=MOV01942.flv

http://s295.photobucket.com/albums/mm123/iciebluern/4%20wheeling/

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f59/i-wanna-see-your-muddy-jeeps-296058/index30.html

Labels: 2010 4runner

Thank GOD for DVR. Finally got a chance to watch Sunday's show. So they are in Japan the home of Iron Chef. So at this point if you have been watching Food Network then you already the outcome. I must say it was pretty hard to watch this episode with an empty stomach. Having Iron Chef Morimoto being your judge had to be very intimidating.

Mehta won the UMAMI skewers challenge but I am at at lost. The reason why I am at a lost is because it looked like Morimoto seemed to like Chef Freitag's UMAMI dishes the best.

Going into the elimination challenge the secret ingredient is "rice" of course. Sweet, bitter, salty, sour, umami the five tastes with the rice. During judging it looked like they took some shots at Mehta's dishes. Them Chef Mullens turn, looked like he got some great comments from all 5 dishes. Then Garces turn with the judges only bad mark was his salty was TOO salty. Then Freihtag's turn came with a raw mushroom, her bitter was more sweet than bitter.

But the end came with Freihtag leaving Tokyo

Labels: bitter, Frietag, Garces, Mehta, Mullen, panko, salty, sour, sweet, umami

See our YouTube page and see some new videos

New for November

2010 Yaris:
Rebate or $1000 or Special APR
36 = 0%
48 = 1.9%
60 = 2.9%

2010 Sienna
39 month Lease special

2009 Venza (1st time ever incentive)
36 = 0%
48 = 2.9%
60 = 3.9%

2010 Tundras
36 = 0%
48 = 1.9% (last month 2.9%)
60 = 1.9% (last month 3.9%)

All rates are with approved credit, see www.rickhendricktoyota.com for details, qulifiers and exclusions

Labels: Hendrick Toyota additional incentives, incentives

Double elimination day. The chefs first challenge was to make a vegetarian Indian dish. The first 30 minute challenge in my opinion looked pretty close, but there's not taste-o-vision yet.

OK 50% is not bad. Amanda made it through but Nate Appleman got cut. I must admit Amanda's plating was very unique. I did not see Jose Garces getting cut though. Chef Mullen was sweating bullets when he was down to the last two contestants standing to get a ticket for the next challenge.

It looks like the next challenge will take place in Tokyo, Japan. wish I could go

Labels: Appleman, Frietag, Garces, Mehta, Mullen, Trevino