Have an Iron Chef Wedding with Our Groom from SpringHouse

Sunday night was the night we here at Daniel Taylor Photography had been waiting on for months. One of our November grooms, Chef Rob McDaniel of SpringHouse at Lake Martin, competed alongside Chef Chris Hastings of Hot & Hot Fish Club on TV’s Iron Chef and WON it, y’all. It was a good night for Alabama!

SpringHouse and its sister properties at Lake Martin near Alex City just happen to among our very favorite wedding venues, and newlywed Rob’s awesome wife, Emily, coordinates weddings and events at the Russell Land Properties. Check them out!!

The Iron Chef episode was filmed in early July, where Sedesh Boodram, former chef de cuisine at Hot & Hot, rounded out the team. Rob gave away no hints of the win during all these months, which has driven everyone crazy — but proves the man can keep a big ol’ secret.

The Food Network favorite had Team Hastings choosing to compete against Bobby Flay in Kitchen Stadium, with a selection of gorgeous sausage creations that showcased their Southern heritage. Gulf shrimp, rabbit, and a highlight, peach moonshine poured from a Mason jar. This was the first culinary team from Alabama to compete on Iron Chef and we couldn’t have been better represented as to the culinary treasures we have down South.

Quote of the night: “Hey baby, I ain’t afraid of no Mason jar,” said Iron Chef guest judge Anthony Anderson, reaching for more peach moonshine from Hastings during the judging. Other judges were Donatella Arpaia Stewart and Simon Majumdar.

 

We were so impressed with Rob’s cooking when we first had it that I  profiled him and Daniel photographed him for the always food-savvy B-Metro magazine. Rob shared his love of regional, season and fresh food that is interpreted in a sexy Southern culinary style. Folks, SpringHouse has an incredible Sunday menu, so make the drive 90 minutes southeast on 280 and check it out, like his signature grown-up s’mores. Be safe, though, and make a reservation; I have a feeling things will get even busier at SpringHouse, especially for the awesome Sunday brunch.

What does an Iron Chef serve at his own wedding? A highlight was the maple bacon groom’s cake that stole the show at his wedding to Emily Lewis. You can see more of Rob’s wedding at Canterbury United Methodist and wedding reception at Inverness Country Club here, and their fantastic Southern wedding rehearsal dinner at Stone’s Throw in Mt Laurel.

 

I’m ecstatic to tell you that Rob can be part of your wedding event at SpringHouse, along with several other gorgeous properties nearby for weddings. His bride, Emily, can help you organize a gorgeous and flavor-filled wedding there. And this is one of the prettiest places we’ve photographed, the epitome of upscale rustic chic. Check out Paige and Brent’s gorgeous wedding rehearsal dinner at SpringHouse, where we first met Rob last summer.

Congrats, Rob, on an incredible win. We’re so proud to know you and to have experienced your genius firsthand.