Morimoto

No Second Helpings update from me on Tuesday. I'm off to New York to interview Masaharu Morimoto about his new cookbook "Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking" (DK Publishing, $40), chat about his Food Network TV show "Iron Chef America" and check out his New York digs. Later, we're heading to "Emeril Live!" where Morimoto will be cooking with the Big E. (The above picture was taken by News Journal photographer Bob Craig at Morimoto in Philadelphia. That's Morimoto and restaurant wunderkind Stephen Starr (left). Starr, co-owner of both Morimoto restaurants, was biting into a pepper a la "the chairman" from the old Japanese Iron Chef TV series. The pepper biting was funny at the time and none of us could stop laughing, but maybe you had to be there...)

I haven't seen Emeril Lagasse in ages and I'm looking forward to seeing what's new with him. Last time I went to "Emeril Live" - eight years ago?? - it was taped in the Hotel Pennsylvania near Madison Square Gardens. Now, it's a big, high-tech studio in Chelsea. Will fill you in on the details on Wednesday.