Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse raid garden at the Obamas and the battle is on

November 7, 5:06 PMNational Parks Travel ExaminerMarilyn Crain

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Michelle Obama in the White House kitchen garden    AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file

On November 4, 2009, the Food Network announced that First Lady Michelle Obama and produce from vegetable garden at the White House (otherwise known as the President's Park ) will star with the chefs in a new Food Network two-hour event. For those who are fans of both Iron Chef America and the national parks, it's a perfect combination.

"We are honored to showcase The White House Kitchen Garden in Iron Chef America," said Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production for Food Network. "This is the most intense culinary competition we've ever shown. It's awe-inspiring to see what four master chefs can create from locally-grown ingredients in the heat of Kitchen Stadium."

In this special episode which premieres Sunday, January 3, 2010, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, Food Network stars Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse travel to the White House to take part in an unprecedented Iron Chef America culinary competition in Super Chef Battle. "Greeted by First Lady Michelle Obama, the chefs are joined by White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford and receive their challenge: create a meal for America using The White House Kitchen Garden's produce as their secret ingredients."

Alton Brown, Iron Chef America's' commentator says that after receiving their challenge, the chefs are split into two teams: Flay and Comerford versus Batali and Lagasse. They immediately head to the garden where they must harvest their ingredients. Then they're off to Kitchen Stadium where the battle begins. Each team must produce five dishes that showcase the ingredients they selected from the garden and that represent the ultimate American meal.

Even the judges are superstars and include: chef and best-selling cookbook author Nigella Lawson; Olympic gold medalist Natalie Coughlin; and actress, author and designer Jane Seymour.