Dressed for a Super Chef Battle
Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 12:27 PM 
Image via Food Network
We're excited to see First Lady Mrs. O this evening, as she makes a cameo appearance on Super Chef Battle (an Iron Chef America event). The episode airs tonight, Sunday, January 3 at 8PM EST on the Food Network. For a video preview, click here.
Per the Washington Post, Mrs. O will reveal the secret ingredient in the competition, which can be anything from the White House kitchen garden. White House executive chef, Chris Comerford, is participating in the challenge.
For the appearance, taped earlier this fall, Mrs. O dressed in a bold mix of colors, wearing an orange Liz Claiborne dress, topped by a aquamarine Moschino cropped cardigan, and a Hattie Carnegie flower pin from the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection. Coordinating aquamarine pumps completed the look.
Reader Comments (74)
Hee! Hee! Did Michelle & Mario Batali coordinate her dress with his crocs & socks?
I love the brooch. I also saw that the O's went out for dinner with some friends in Hawaii a couple of nights ago. She was wearing a rainbow dress with black flats and black clutch. I would love to see a picture!
Not keen on this. Horrible combination of colours. Not all that many people can wear orange all that easily...
I love this combo! I think she can wear anything, and looks especially good in these colors. Mostly, though, I love the playful, fun vibe of this outfit. Brava, Mrs. O!
Love the color combo! It absolutely pops with her skin color.
This would be a great Easter/Spring outfit.
Ooh! This color combo would be bad on me (red hair, fair skin) but I love it on Michelle. I'd like to see it with a slightly slimmer cardigan, though. Something that shows her waist.
I love this outfit! Mrs. O is always having fun with her clothing. I think she's a total inspiration.
She wears clothes so well - but this is so awful. Might have worked if she chose one bright with a neutral.
The orange is pretty with her skin, but a neutral would've made it look classier--it's just me not being a fan of bright color combos; I think she's so great in either rich jeweltones or (my favorite) neutrals--jeweltones meaning she looks great in a very deep amethyst and garnet, and I love her in ivory, camel, and black. JMO--kinda more of a color combo that a toddler would wear...orange with a metallic bronze woulda looked incredible on her, IMO
While true not all people can wear orange. Mrs O really is one of those people who can. The way the color pops off her skin is amazing!
I'm sorry to hear this. It is undignified and inappropriate for the First Lady to appear on this sort of show.
But then I'm also appalled that presidential candidates find it necessary to appear on late night talk shows with comedians, so I guess I'm just old-fashioned.
Hyde Parker, curmudgeon
@Hyde Parker... there is a reason the FLOTUS is appearing on this show and it is entirely appropriate. Her focus this year will be childhood obesity and her challenge to the Iron Chefs is to make family friendly food with items found in her garden. This is 2010, there is no longer a traditional media and this is not a traditional first lady.
Sadly, I will miss this show tonight. My cable provider, Cablevision, dropped the FoodNetwork... I am so sad!
She's rocking one of Batali's favorite colors - orange.
Absolutely stunning combination of colors! Love it.
I have a question for you (and sorry if this has already been asked/answered before): how do you always know what brand Mrs. O is wearing?? I'm sure you know fashion and clothing brands inside and out but I'm always amazed at how you can identify these things from - I'm guessing - just looking at the photo?
Also a note for my fellow Mrs. O fans: I saw the book on sale at the Home Goods store (love that place) this weekend!
MRS O LOOKED GREAT SHE CANT GO WRONG ALL THE TIME LOVE HER SHOES AM SURE THAT SHE WEAR THEM BEFORE. I CANT WEIT TO WASH IT AT 8.00PM IT GOING TO BE A BATTLE FOR THE BEST FOOD AM SURE THAT MRS O WILL PUT HER TWO CENT INTO IT. CRO NOT FEELING THOSE SHOES THAT HE HAD ON ITS LOOKED NICE ON MRS O FEET OVER THE SUMMER.
Good grief. Is anyone here old enough to remember the old Howard Johnson's roadside restaurants? Their color scheme was turquoise and orange. In this getup, Mrs. O looks like an oldtime HoJo waitress. Not the image I want for our First Lady.
LOL about the Howard Johnson's colors. Yes, I am old enough to remember and there was one recently not too far from my current home. Mrs. O looks fab in the orange and I am personally not the biggest fan of the blue/turquoise cardi, but she does look good I must say.
Nope don't remember Howard Johnson, love the color and it matches Mario's famous orange shoes.
Hyde Parker ....Did you find inappropriate when Nancy Regan appeared on the TV show Different Strokes in the 80's to promote her "Just Say No to Drugs"?!! ....Also, did you find it shallow for former First Lady Laura Bush to promote her White House incentives by sometimes appearing on the "Jay Leno Tonight Show" ?....I'm trying to figure out why you find it inappropriate for First Lady Michelle to darn near the same thing to promote her agenda healthy eating...
As for Michelle dress clothing on this show...uhm...Let's just say orange is not Michelle color...sorry to say.
MICHELLE, I DON'T GET TO THE BLOG FOR EVERY PICTURE, BUT I ALWAYS NOTICE
YOU TAKE THE TIME TO COMMENT - THATS SWEET.
I'm glad she wore this outfit for this occasion.
I would have preferred to see this combination for Halloween.
Mrs. O seems to be able to wear anything, and look
cute. Love the Moschino cropped cardigan, and would be
a knockout with an off-white dress and the same shoes IMO.
I would REALLY like to know - WHY ORANGE AND BLUE????
Maybe there's a reason behind this combination (smile). One
last thing, she certainly does stand out like sunshine against
those white gowns.
I think she carries these colors well. She pushes the envelope when it comes to colors and patterns and I love that. She is not a traditional 1st lady (how many 1st ladies could wear form fitting sheath dresses or anything form fitting). From the pics I have seen she looks good! I haven't said that about everything she has worn but I think she has pretty good taste and I appreciate the fact that she isn't always wearing ugly/boxy thousand dollar pants and skirt suits.
I think her reason for being on this show is to promote healthy eating which is one of her causes as 1st Lady. What a great idea to reach people this way. Alot of people (I being one) are influenced by her. Alot of young girls will see that she will be on the show and watch it. So I think it is a great idea.
@ Lorns I am sure we will see this cardigan again and most likely with her summery white dress she wore in Hawaii (on Christmas vacation). Mrs. O is known to reinvent pieces of her wardrobe.
The Iron chefs were quite smitten with Mrs. O, of course Mario loved her Orange, and says it will now been known as the Obama Batali Orange.
I would never think to pair these two colors, but I think they look fresh and lovely on Mrs. O. One of the things that's so exciting about her choices is she breaks through traditional ideas like the association with Howard Johnson's or the idea that this combo is best for Halloween. I like that she apparently thinks, "Why should this combo forever belong to Howard Johnson's?" I love her boldness.
Very 1950's! These are certainly not colors I would wear but they work on Mrs. O. I'm not sold on this ensemble though.
She looks great. I remember Howard Johnson's and I'm thrilled to see Mrs. O reinvent this color combination for the better. I'm so glad she's healthy, safe, and apparently enjoying herself while she does good things for important causes.
NICOLE, thank yu. I agree.
LADIES, EVERYONE, STUNNING - PLEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSE TAKE A LOOK AT THE
222 PICTURES OF MRS. O - I'M EXHAUSTED LOOKING AT THESE FASHIONS.
FOR THE SITE INFO LOOK AT FOLLOWING MRS. O'S FASHION "THE BEST OF 2009" by
Mrs. T, COMMENT BY nc Sat.Jan.2/2010 10:21 pm.
I JUST LOOKED AT HER YEAR IN PICTURES
AND GOT UP TO 150. WOW WOW WOW, WHAT A FIRST LADY - WOMAN OF THE YEAR
I'M BREATHLESS. SO MANY FAVOURITES HERE.
Patchwork looking blouse by Basso & Brooke - speaking at The White House re
music and poetry. Black dress at NATO Summit Apr/09 - Alaia, This is "OUR"
First Lady, G20 Summit, Thakoon Coat, A Lady Indeed. Love this.
Time 100 Gala, Necklace by Loree Rodkin - great. Stunning.
Indeed, unprecedented Fashionable First Lady IMO, as well as Wife, Mom, Mentor,
A FINE EXAMPLE, Yu have changed MY LIFE Mrs. O and I thank yu.
WELL MRS O CLEARLY HAS EXCELLENT TASTE..MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, MICHELLE IS WEARING MY ORANGE I.M DRESS..I PURCHASED THIS GLORIOUS DRESS BACK IN JUNE FOR ABOUT $100.00 ON SALE..THIS DRESS NORMALLY RETAILS FOR 199.00 SO EVEN AT THAT PRICE IT'S QUITE A STEAL. THE DETAILS OF THIS DRESS ARE SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL. THE DRESS FEATURES TWO HIDDEN POCKETS AND A LUGGAGE COLORED LEATHER BELT FOR A LITTLE ADDED CHICNESS. THE DRESS HAS A WONDERFUL SHANTUNG SILK HAND. I'VE WORN THE DRESS TWICE..EACH TIME, I CHOSE NEUTRAL SHOES.. SEPTEMBER WAS STILL QUITE WARM, SO I WORE A VERY APPROPRIATE SANDAL THAT MATCHED THE STYLE OF THE DRESS..IN NOVEMEBER IT WAS A BIT CHILLIER SO I PAIRED THE DRESS WITH A LOVELY BROWN CARDIGAN, 3 MEDIUM SIZED BROOCHES IN SHADES OF AMBER AND CITRINE..OH YEAH, I WORE TORTOISE KITTEN HEEL SLINGBACKS..VERY MAD MEN INSPIRED..MRS O CLEARLY WEARS WHAT MAKES HER SMILE..I THOUGHT SHE LOOKED LOVELY..I RECEIVED TONS OF COMPLIMENTS..WHAT A HAPPY COLOR; ONE OF MY FAVORITES
Mrs. O looks beautiful in the orange & turquoise. She's bold & beautiful and she represents the us brown skin women; thank you Mr. Prez for marrying Michelle.
Mrs Obama looks absolutely delightful...
If I remember correctly this show was taped late summer/early fall and her colors capture that beautifully even if the decision to air it in winter makes hay for season/color quibblers-
Any longtime participant on this blog will recognise 'Nancy' and her now recognizable, unmistakable and predictable cheap shots at the First Lady;
We also know that try as hard as 'Nancy' may, her unrestrained attacks on Mrs Obama couched in thin fashion chatter betray the fact that 'Nancy' will never be satisfied nor can Mrs Obama ever meet this imaginary "image" of what Nancy's First Lady ought to be...
As for 'Hyde Parker' as with 'Nancy', I remain infinitely baffled by any person who spends any amount of time on a blog dedicated to a woman they clearly disdain...
It is evident that 'Hyde Parker' remotely knows the Obama's from their Chicago days, but it is the persistent petty and grudge-filled comments that really catch one's attention enough to make any decent person ask: Why so bitter...?!
Happy New Year everyone...
Unfortunately it looks like there are those for whom the precious gift of life and health and the chance to see a new year still isn't enough to be grateful, to live and do better or to do away with the all consuming hate...
I remember HoJo's! But I tend to think Mrs. O is paying a wink and a nod to the two iron chefs. Batali orange and Flay blue. That's a theme in Flay's flavors and decor, southwestern. Anyway, it is very 50s looking - in a smart way. I like it. And I totally agree with Tia's remark about Mrs. Reagan showing up on "Different Strokes". As the saying goes, "What you talkin' about, Hyde Park!"
Michelle looks pretty...Sooo happy she's finally wearing her hair down.
@Erin I'm sure the naysayers will agree that Nancy Reagan was undignified and unbecoming of a first lade? snap!
Kevin was a popular young man in my 6th grade class. Being well-liked, he created fashion trends which his friends followed. Some were good and he generally looked very nice . One day he came to school wearing his thick white socks over his pants. The next day all the boys wore their socks over their pants too. Another day, he put a folded white hankerchief in his back pocket and let it hang down over the pocket The very next morning all of the boys had one too. Kevin was making fashion statements, but not always sensible ones. I am reminded of Kevin when MO misses the mark and the class follows anyway.
I saw the show earlier tonight and it was a pleasant treat. I got a couple of ideas for vegetable dishes that will work with my new eating habits. It was a good inspiration to all of us New Year's Resolutioners (?) who are aiming to eat more healthfully.
As for FLOTUS' outfit, it was not one of my favorites but it works on her. I think when people own their choices and looks pleased with themselves, it goes a long, long way....that goes for anyone, IMHO. As for the color combo, look at the last 4 or 5 jewelry cllections from RJ Graziano. He never fails to use that turquoise/coral combination. Also, Lorrainne Schwartz did a collection that several celebrities have worn on the red carpet in that combination and talk about a knock-out! This dress and sweater is not something that I could pull off, I still have too much _____________ (fill in the blank) to be attempting that. I'll stick with my RJ Graziano bracelet with matching earrings!(smile)
@Hyde Parker,
What is so "inappropriate" of the First Lady of the United States appearing on a show on the Food Network promoting healthy eating in school age children? She should be applauded for taking on this initiative, considering that childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in this country and if not addressed at all levels of this society starting now our health care system will be stretched to the breaking point in 10, 15 or 20 years when these youngsters develop diabetes, hypertension and heart disease much younger than their parents or grandparents ever did. So you need to get off your high horse and join forces with the FLOTUS, the Food Network, and like-minded people in your own community to address this ticking time bomb. And, oh, by the way, in listening to each of the chefs, they all were in awe of not only the FLOTUS and the garden, but also on her initiative in using the White House Kitchen Garden as a platform to promote healthy eating among all the children in the country.
Hyde Parker,
I watched the show this evening and First Lady Michelle was very dignified and appropriate. The part with Michelle was done very tastefully, she was filmed on the White House lawn and NOT in the show's kitchen stadium. Showcasing the White House Garden at the being of the show was AWESOME. Having our First Lady come out of the White House and greet the chefs was a very polite thing to do.
And the 'secret ingredient' - for those of ya'll that missed the show - was reveled by Mrs.O: "Anything in the White House Garden".
It was a great show and such a wonderful platform for Mrs.O to get her message out regarding eating healthy fresh locally grown food items!
And a big 'Thank You' goes out to the Food Network for reminding America of Michelle's message even during the battle between the chefs in kitchen stadium. Bravo!
I too watched the show tonight and the First Lady was lovely, super dignified and appropriate for all of the 2 minutes it took to welcome the chefs to the white house and share her vision for healthy eating and the obesity crisis in America.
Anyone nitpicking this very brief but powerful appearance by our wonderful First Lady is sad - enough said.
A very happy and wonderful New Year to all my friends at Mrs O.org!! (Denisegal, thank you and God bless you!!)
Collard Greens Tamale....I love both of those foods but never would have thought about combining the two into a single dish. I think Mrs. O's penchant for combining the unusual and the unexpected in terms of colors, texture, styles, etc. may have even influenced the winners of tonight's competition...Team Flay and Comerford...into including that dish as one of their courses, and it worked well for them, just like many of MO's choices often surprise us and works well for her.
Oh BTW Jaylanie 2363 re: "Sooo happy she's finally wearing her hair down".
The show was taped much earlier this year, she has not let it down yet. But who knows. Maybe she'll surprise you soon. Until then, for you and others who are still bothered by her choice of hairstyle, continue to expect the unexpected because Mrs. O is absolutely delightful in how well she pulls that off.
:
HoJo's used to have the best fried clam strips. Yum.
As for the dignity of appearing on such shows...well, I do respect the office of the presidency, so I get where you're coming from, HydeParker. Everyone's allowed to be curmudgeonly on occasion. :-)
But, my opinion is that don't have royalty in this country, and the Obamas (or the Bushes, or the Clintons etc.) aren't our kings and queens. Heck, most the campaign season, candidates spend their time trying to convince us they're "just like us."
I don't want to see politicians on Maury Povich or Girls Gone Wild, don't get me wrong! But I think the republic will survive McCain on Letterman, Obama on Jay Leno, or Michelle Obama on Iron Chef: America. And her appearance was highly dignified, brief, and promoted healthy eating to an audience that might not normally be reached through regular media outlets. Not too bad, I think.
Afew comments:
On my TV, the cardi did not look turquoise, but rather a muted gray/blue. I know that media can really change what something looks like, but it does make me wonder what the true color was. No matter what, FLOTUS looked lovely and, as others stated, very dignified.
Again, as others have said, I think the show did a good job of carrying forward Mrs. O's ideas about the importance of fresh, local, and sustainable food, that nurtures our bodies and souls and encourages healthy eating -- and that such food can also be tasty and exciting.
Lastly, something I was very impressed with was that the winning team was given $25,000 to donate to their favorite charity. Flay/Commeford, (sp?) the winners, donated to the local Meals on Wheels, which I thought was great -- it's connected to food, and as a geriatrician, it particularly speaks to people I care deeply about. So good on the Food Network for being a platform for two of Mrs. Obama's causes -- healthy eating and giving back to the community.
I forgot to mention in my comment up above....
I love the fact that the White House sent some of the WH garden bee hive honey over to kitchen stadium! Also, Comerford mentioned that the White House is using a lot less refined sugar in the deserts and instead use honey more often. The thing I would love to taste from the show was the sweet potato tart with the meringue and pecans - it looked very yummy!
And I must find some watermelon-radish seeds to add to my garden this year, never heard of those puppies before. Icicle radishes I've planted before - but who has ever heard of watermelon-radishes before tonight's show?
That wacky romanesco cauliflower that one team was using was so cool-looking. I have never seen that before.
Christina,
Yeah that Romanesco cauliflower is something I've never seen before either.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanesco_broccoli
A few years ago when I was in Sicily, Italy there was tons of the 'purple' cauliflower around everywhere but I never noticed the Romanesco one.
Can't say that I love the outfit ... but ohh does it make me smile.
Go Michelle!
@ Audrey, "unmistakable, predictable cheap shots"? "unrestrained attacks"? Really? People like you take the fun out of coming to this site. You don't know me or my opinions--about anything--from Adam's off ox. There are some lovely ladies here I enjoy very much, but, for just for you, dear Audrey, I will refrain from posting anything about Mrs. Obama. Okay? I just can't be bothered any more.
I WOULD HAVE LOVE TO SEE THE FLOTUS LAST NIGHT ON IRON CHIEF BUT MY STUPIED
CABLE SERVICE CABLEVISION IN NEW YORK IS FIGHTING WITH SCRIPPS.
love the outfit! I love the fact that Mrs. Obama appeared on the show. Her appearance probably educated more people on the importance of local food, fresh food, and the importance of using vegetables than any congressional hearing. I support our local farmers and know how hard they work. Bravo for Mrs. O!