Iron Chef Morimoto Plays Ball

On the limits of mixing Western and Eastern cuisines: There are almost no limits, Morimoto says. "Anything" is possible, he insists. What about, say, Mexican-Japanese fusion? He's already working on it.

On a culinary experiment that didn't work: A dish of smoked asparagus. "Too much smoke," he says.

On his reputation for being a no-nonsense guy: That's an image crafted for television, Morimoto hints.

"I'm more charming than people think," he concludes.