Iron Chef Morimoto throws first pitch, reveals ideal ballpark food pairing

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto threw the ceremonial first pitch at U.S. Cellular Field before Monday's Tigers-White Sox game.

Before his career as a chef slash TV star slash restauranteur took off, Morimoto dreamed of becoming a baseball player, excelling at the sport in high school. He remains a staunch fan of his hometown Hiroshima Carp, and of Carp alum Hiroki Kuroda.

"He's my hero," Morimoto said of the Yanks starter.

But what does the Iron Chef think of ballpark food? This is, after all, a guy who churns out raw tuna pizza with sweet eel sauce -- yup -- the way most people microwave popcorn.

He loves it. The ideal pairing: "Beer, hot dog. Hot dog, beer." And it looks like Morimoto's culinary colleagues agree with him:

Surprised to run into my friend @Mariobatali @whitesox game! pic.twitter.com/0SKtjRuMs0

- Chef Morimoto (@chef_morimoto) August 13, 2013