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''The Next Iron Chef'' is a
limited-run series In television programming, a limited-run series (or simply limited series) is a program with an end date and limit to the number of episodes. For instance, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' definition specifies a "program with two or mo ...
on the
Food Network Food Network is an American basic cable channel owned by Television Food Network, G.P., a joint venture and general partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Networks (which holds a 69% ownership stake of the network) and Nexstar Media Group ( ...
that aired its fifth season in 2012. Each season is a stand-alone competition to select a chef to be designated an Iron Chef, who will appear on the
Food Network Food Network is an American basic cable channel owned by Television Food Network, G.P., a joint venture and general partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery Networks (which holds a 69% ownership stake of the network) and Nexstar Media Group ( ...
program ''
Iron Chef America ''Iron Chef America'' is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's ''Iron Chef'', and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed ''Iron Chef USA'' that aired in 2001. The show is produced by Food Network, w ...
''. In Season 1, eight chefs from around the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
battled to be the next Iron Chef. The show debuted Sunday, October 7, 2007, and the hosts were
Alton Brown Alton Crawford Brown Jr. (born July 30, 1962) is an American television personality, food show presenter, chef, author, voice actor, and cinematographer. He is the creator and host of the Food Network television show '' Good Eats'' that ran for ...
and "The Chairman",
Mark Dacascos Mark Alan Dacascos (born February 26, 1964) is an American actor, martial artist and television personality. He won numerous karate and kung fu championships between the ages of 7 and 18. He is known for his roles as Wo Fat in '' Hawaii Five-0' ...
. Challenges one through five of the competition were held at the
Culinary Institute of America Culinary arts are the cuisine arts of food preparation, cooking and presentation of food, usually in the form of meals. People working in this field – especially in establishments such as restaurants – are commonly called chefs or ...
. Challenges six and seven took place in
Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and ...
,
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
and
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...
,
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
respectively. The final challenge took place at the Food Network studios in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, on the Iron Chef America set. The winner of ''The Next Iron Chef'' was
Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the United States, U.S. U.S. state, state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along ...
restaurant chef
Michael Symon Michael D. Symon (born September 19, 1969) is an American chef, restaurateur, television personality, and author. He is of Greek, Sicilian, and Eastern European descent. He is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as ''Iron Chef America' ...
. Season 2 premiered on October 4, 2009, and featured ten chefs battling to be the newest Iron Chef. The show was based in Los Angeles before traveling to Tokyo for two episodes, and again hosted by
Alton Brown Alton Crawford Brown Jr. (born July 30, 1962) is an American television personality, food show presenter, chef, author, voice actor, and cinematographer. He is the creator and host of the Food Network television show '' Good Eats'' that ran for ...
and "The Chairman"
Mark Dacascos Mark Alan Dacascos (born February 26, 1964) is an American actor, martial artist and television personality. He won numerous karate and kung fu championships between the ages of 7 and 18. He is known for his roles as Wo Fat in '' Hawaii Five-0' ...
. Following a final battle in Kitchen Stadium, Chicago-born Ecuadorian-American chef
Jose Garces Jose Garces is an Ecuadorian American chef, restaurant owner, and Iron Chef. He was born in Chicago to Ecuadorian parents. He won in the second season of ''The Next Iron Chef''. Garces studied Culinary Arts at Kendall College in Chicago, graduat ...
, was selected the newest Iron Chef. Garces debuted as an Iron Chef on January 17, 2010, when he squared off against Seattle chef Rachel Yang. Food Network began airing commercials for the third season of ''The Next Iron Chef'' in July 2010. It was later announced in an internet press release that Alton Brown and judge
Donatella Arpaia Donatella Arpaia Stewart (born September 15, 1971) is an American restaurateur and a television personality who appears on The Food Network. Arpaia is a regular judge on The Food Network's ''Iron Chef America'' and ''The Next Iron Chef''. She ha ...
would return for season 3. Completing the judges panel are food writer and broadcaster
Simon Majumdar Simon Majumdar (born April 7, 1964) is a British-born food and travel author, and food television personality. He has appeared on many Food Network shows and is based in Los Angeles and London. He also judges tables on shows such as ''Iron Chef''. ...
and current Iron Chef
Michael Symon Michael D. Symon (born September 19, 1969) is an American chef, restaurateur, television personality, and author. He is of Greek, Sicilian, and Eastern European descent. He is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as ''Iron Chef America' ...
. Season 3 began airing on October 3, 2010 on Food Network. The winner of season 3 was
Marc Forgione Marc Forgione is an American chef who formerly competed in Food Network's ''Iron Chef America'' and is now the owner of Restaurant Marc Forgione in Tribeca, New York City. He was born on December 16, 1978, and raised in Bellerose, New York. Chef ...
. Chef Forgione engaged in his first battle on November 28, 2010. By November 30, 2010, Next Iron Chef's music composer Craig Marks released the soundtrack "Iron Chef America & The Next Iron Chef", which contains themes from all seasons of both shows. During Season 4, the eliminated chefs were interviewed during the week following the episode airdate on ABC's ''
The Chew ''The Chew'' is an American cooking-themed talk show that aired for seven seasons from September 26, 2011 to June 28, 2018, having replaced the soap opera ''All My Children'', on ABC as part of the network's weekday daytime lineup. The name wa ...
''. The first castoff was interviewed on November 1, 2011. Season 5 aired from November 4, 2012 to December 23, 2012 and was called ''The Next Iron Chef: Redemption''. In 2017, the series was revived as ''
Iron Chef Gauntlet ''Iron Chef Gauntlet'' is a television series on Food Network that began airing on April 16, 2017. The series is a reboot of the ''Iron Chef'' and ''Iron Chef America'' series that gained popularity on Food Network and is hosted by Alton Brown, w ...
''.


Judges


Season 1: 2007


Contestants

*
John Besh John Besh (born May 14, 1968) is an American chef, TV personality, philanthropist, restaurateur and author. He is known for his efforts in preserving the culinary heritage of New Orleans cuisine. Background Besh was born in Meridian, Mississippi, ...
(
New Orleans, LA New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Mario Batali Mario Francesco Batali (born September 19, 1960) is an American chef, writer, and restaurateur. Batali co-owned restaurants in New York City; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; and Newport Beach, California; Boston; Singapore; Westport, Connecticut; and N ...
in Battle
Andouille Andouille ( , ; ; from Latin'induco') is a smoked sausage made using pork, originating in France. France In France, particularly Brittany and Normandy, the traditional ingredients of andouille are primarily pig chitterlings, tripe, onions, wi ...
in Season 3 of ''Iron Chef America.'' *
Chris Cosentino Chris Cosentino is an American celebrity chef and reality television personality known as the winner of ''Top Chef Masters'', a competitor on ''The Next Iron Chef'' and for his appearances on ''Iron Chef America''. He is known for his haute cuisin ...
(
San Francisco, CA San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
); lost to Batali in Battle Garlic, in Season 4. *
Jill Davie Jill Davie is an American chef. She is the chef-owner of the Mar Vista in Los Angeles, California. Early life and education Jill Davie grew up in Los Angeles. She attended the University of California, Santa Cruz and the Culinary Institute of Am ...
(
Santa Monica, CA Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing to ...
)
Chef de Cuisine A chef de cuisine (, French for ''head of kitchen'') or head chef is a chef that leads and manages the kitchen and chefs of a restaurant or hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities ...
at Josie in Santa Monica, California, and co-host of Fine Living's ''Shopping with Chefs''. *
Traci Des Jardins Traci Des Jardins is an American chef and restaurateur who previously owned Jardinière, a French influenced California fine-dining restaurant in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco, California. She is also chef and partner of ''Public ...
(
San Francisco, CA San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
); defeated Batali in Battle Shrimp in Season 2. *
Gavin Kaysen Gavin Kaysen (born 1979 in Thousand Oaks, California) is executive chef and owner of Spoon and Stable, Bellecour Bakery, Demi, Socca, and Mara all in Minneapolis. He received the James Beard Foundation Award, James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwe ...
(
San Diego, CA San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United States ...
) Chef de Cuisine at El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in California. *
Morou Ouattara Morou Ouattara is an executive chef and owner of the Kora and Farrah Olivia restaurants in Arlington, VA. Born and raised on the Ivory Coast in West Africa in a family with 33 children, he combines French, African and Middle Eastern cuisines. He ...
( Washington, D.C.) who lost to
Bobby Flay Robert William Flay (born December 10, 1964), is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and reality television personality. Flay is the owner and executive chef of several restaurants and franchises, including Bobby's Burger Palace, Bobby's ...
in Battle Peas in Season 3. * Aarón Sanchez (
New York, NY New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
) who tied
Masaharu Morimoto is a Japanese chef, best known as an Iron Chef on the Japanese TV cooking show ''Iron Chef'' and its spinoff ''Iron Chef America''. He is also known for his unique style of presenting food. Career Morimoto received practical training in sush ...
in Battle
Black Bass Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...
in Season 2. *
Michael Symon Michael D. Symon (born September 19, 1969) is an American chef, restaurateur, television personality, and author. He is of Greek, Sicilian, and Eastern European descent. He is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as ''Iron Chef America' ...
(
Cleveland, OH Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U. ...
) who lost to Masaharu Morimoto in Battle Asparagus in Season 2.


Judges

The contest was judged by food writer
Michael Ruhlman Michael Carl Ruhlman (born July 28, 1963) is an American author, home cook and entrepreneur. He has written or co-authored more than two dozen books, including non-fiction, fiction, memoir, and books on cooking. He has co-authored many books w ...
, ''
Bon Appétit ''Bon Appétit'' is a monthly American food and entertaining magazine, that typically contains recipes, entertaining ideas, restaurant recommendations, and wine reviews. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered at the One World Trade Center i ...
'' restaurant editor
Andrew Knowlton Andrew Knowlton was the Restaurant Editor at ''Bon Appétit'' magazine, where he worked for 18 years, starting in 2000. He has also been the host of several cooking competition shows, including '' The Final Table''. Early life Knowlton was born in ...
, and
restaurateur A restaurateur is a person who opens and runs restaurants professionally. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who owns a restaurant, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspe ...
Donatella Arpaia Donatella Arpaia Stewart (born September 15, 1971) is an American restaurateur and a television personality who appears on The Food Network. Arpaia is a regular judge on The Food Network's ''Iron Chef America'' and ''The Next Iron Chef''. She ha ...
.


Contestant progress

: (WIN) The chef won the series : (WIN) The chef won the challenge. : (OUT) The chef lost that week's Elimination Challenge and was out of the competition.


Results


Episode 1

*Challenge 1: Speed :*A speed challenge in which chefs are required to debone a chicken, fillet a salmon, open enough coconuts to produce two cups of coconut milk, shuck six oysters and clams, french a rack of lamb, and slice off a strip of
daikon Daikon or mooli, ''Raphanus sativus'' var. ''longipinnatus,'' is a mild-flavored winter radish usually characterized by fast-growing leaves and a long, white, root. Originally native to continental East Asia, daikon is harvested and consume ...
thin enough to read newsprint through within 15 minutes. :*WINNER: Aarón Sanchez *Challenge 2: Artistry :*Chefs are challenged to make desserts: one with any available ingredient and the second featuring savory ingredients. Each chef selects one of the following savory ingredients: catfish,
tripe Tripe is a type of edible lining from the stomachs of various farm animals. Most tripe is from cattle, pigs and sheep. Types of tripe Beef tripe Beef tripe is made from the muscle wall (the interior mucosal lining is removed) of a cow's ...
, beef shoulder,
chorizo Chorizo (, from Spanish ; similar to but distinct from Portuguese ) is a type of pork cured meat originating from the Iberian Peninsula. In Europe, chorizo is a fermented, cured, smoked meat, which may be sliced and eaten without cooking, ...
,
duck confit Duck confit (french: confit de canard ) is a French dish made with whole duck. In Gascony, according to the families perpetuating the tradition of duck confit, all the pieces of duck are used to produce the meal. Each part can have a specific ...
, bacon, salmon
roe Roe ( ) or hard roe is the fully ripe internal egg masses in the ovaries, or the released external egg masses, of fish and certain marine animals such as shrimp, scallop, sea urchins and squid. As a seafood, roe is used both as a cooked in ...
, or squid based on the order of their finish in the Speed challenge. The chefs are not allowed to use butter, sugar, or cheese unless they make it themselves. :*WINNER: John Besh :*ELIMINATED: Traci Des Jardins *First aired: October 7, 2007


Episode 2

*Challenge 3: Simplicity :*The chefs have 30 minutes to prepare six one-bite (
amuse-bouche An ''amuse-bouche'' (; ) or ''amuse-gueule'' (, ; ) is a single, bite-sized'' hors d'œuvre''. Amuse-bouches are different from appetizers in that they are not ordered from a menu by patrons but are served free and according to the chef's select ...
) dishes that best exemplify their style of cooking. Because of his win in the Artistry challenge in Episode 1, Chef Besh is given the advantage of selecting his ingredients first, and also selecting the order in which the chefs present their dishes. The chefs serve as judges for each other's dishes. Chef Sanchez misunderstands the rules and fails to finish plating more than a single serving of his dish, deciding during the judging to give his dish to Chef Besh for tasting. :*WINNER: Michael Symon *Challenge 4: Innovation :*After a brief introduction to the special ingredients and appliances (and with some tutelage by chef
Wylie Dufresne Wylie Dufresne (born 1970) is the chef and owner of Du's Donuts and the former chef and owner of the wd~50 and Alder restaurants in Manhattan. Dufresne is a leading American proponent of molecular gastronomy, the movement to incorporate science ...
in a special guest appearance), the chefs have 90 minutes to "play" with these items in order to incorporate them into their cooking style. The chefs then have 90 minutes to prepare a dish using innovative ingredients (e.g., xanthan gum,
liquid nitrogen Liquid nitrogen—LN2—is nitrogen in a liquid state at low temperature. Liquid nitrogen has a boiling point of about . It is produced industrially by fractional distillation of liquid air. It is a colorless, low viscosity liquid that is wid ...
) and innovative appliances (e.g.,
thermal immersion circulator A thermal immersion circulator is an electrically powered device that circulates and heats a warm fluid kept at an accurate and stable temperature. It is used in process, environmental, microbiological, hazardous waste, and other laboratories. Sin ...
, Anti-griddle) to prepare a single dish for the judges. With his win in Challenge 1 of this round, Chef Symon is able to select his ingredients first and had a dedicated set of cooking equipment, while the other contestants have to share a common set. :*WINNER: Chris Cosentino :*ELIMINATED: Jill Davie *First aired: October 14, 2007


Episode 3

*Challenge 5: Resourcefulness (Double Elimination) :*The chefs are divided into pairs. Each chef selects ingredients for his partner and places the ingredients in a sealed cooler. The chefs are taken outdoors, where each chef has 60 minutes to prepare two dishes with the items located in his cooler and the limited ingredients at his individual station. In addition, the chefs are only able to use a single charcoal grill to cook their dishes. With his win in the previous challenge, Chris Cosentino is given the privilege of deciding the pairings of contestants. :*WINNER: Michael Symon :*ELIMINATED: Gavin Kaysen and Morou Ouattara *First aired: October 21, 2007


Episode 4

*Challenge 6: Creativity Under Pressure :*The remaining four chefs learn that they will be traveling to Germany for this week's challenge. At the Munich airport, the chefs are taken to
Lufthansa Deutsche Lufthansa AG (), commonly shortened to Lufthansa, is the flag carrier of Germany. When combined with its subsidiaries, it is the second- largest airline in Europe in terms of passengers carried. Lufthansa is one of the five founding ...
's catering facilities where their next challenge is to create the ultimate first class meal for passengers, to be finished and presented to the first class cabin of a long-haul jet. They have 90 minutes to prepare a minimum of three dishes. :*WINNER: Michael Symon :*ELIMINATED: Aarón Sanchez *First aired: October 28, 2007


Episode 5

*Challenge 7: Lead and Inspire :*The remaining three chefs continue the overseas portion of the competition as they fly to Paris for the next challenge. The chefs must create a meal representing their interpretations of classic American foods, to be served at a dinner hosted by the
United States Ambassador Ambassadors of the United States are persons nominated by the president to serve as the country's diplomatic representatives to foreign nations, international organizations, and as ambassadors-at-large. Under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S ...
to France, with guests including a number of noted French culinary figures. :*WINNER: Neither remaining chef was declared the winner. :*ELIMINATED: Chris Cosentino *First aired: November 4, 2007


Episode 6

*Challenge 8: Attain Greatness :*The final competition tales the form of a head-to-head competition in Kitchen Stadium in a traditional
Iron Chef America ''Iron Chef America'' is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's ''Iron Chef'', and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed ''Iron Chef USA'' that aired in 2001. The show is produced by Food Network, w ...
battle. The secret ingredient was swordfish. Judges Ruhlman, Knowlton and Arpaia are replaced in the on-air tasting portion of the judging by current Iron Chefs
Bobby Flay Robert William Flay (born December 10, 1964), is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and reality television personality. Flay is the owner and executive chef of several restaurants and franchises, including Bobby's Burger Palace, Bobby's ...
,
Cat Cora Catherine Ann Cora is an American professional chef, television personality, business person, and cookbook author. She is best known for her featured role as an "Iron Chef" on '' Iron Chef America''Yancey, Kitty Bean"'Iron Chef' Cat Cora is out o ...
and
Masaharu Morimoto is a Japanese chef, best known as an Iron Chef on the Japanese TV cooking show ''Iron Chef'' and its spinoff ''Iron Chef America''. He is also known for his unique style of presenting food. Career Morimoto received practical training in sush ...
. The three judges and the three Iron Chefs collaborate to determine the winner. :*WINNER: Michael Symon :*ELIMINATED: John Besh *First aired: November 11, 2007


Season 2: 2009


Contestants

* Nate Appleman (Executive Chef and partner, Pulino's Bar and Pizzeria, New York City); lost to Michael Symon in Battle
Suckling Pig A suckling pig is a piglet fed on its mother's milk (i.e., a piglet which is still a "suckling"). In culinary contexts, a suckling pig is slaughtered between the ages of two and six weeks. It is traditionally cooked whole, often roasted, in ...
in Season 7 * Dominique Crenn (Chef de Cuisine, Luce at The Intercontinental Hotel, San Francisco) * Brad Farmerie (Executive Chef, Double Crown, Madam Geneva, PUBLIC, The Monday Room, New York City); defeated Cat Cora in Battle Maple Syrup in Season 7 *
Amanda Freitag Amanda Freitag (born May 11, 1972) is an American celebrity chef, and cookbook author. She is known for her frequent guest on Food Network television programs and work as a judge on the television cooking competitions. She is based in New York Cit ...
(Executive Chef, The Harrison, New York City); lost to Bobby Flay in Battle Alaskan King Crab in Season 7 *
Jose Garces Jose Garces is an Ecuadorian American chef, restaurant owner, and Iron Chef. He was born in Chicago to Ecuadorian parents. He won in the second season of ''The Next Iron Chef''. Garces studied Culinary Arts at Kendall College in Chicago, graduat ...
(Executive Chef and owner, Amada, Tinto, Distrito, Chifa, Village Whiskey, Garces Trading Company, JG Domestic, Philadelphia; Mercat a la Planxa, Chicago); defeated Bobby Flay in Battle Melon in Season 6 * Eric Greenspan (Executive Chef and owner, The Foundry on Melrose, Los Angeles) *
Jehangir Mehta Jehangir Mehta (born July 9, 1971 in Mumbai, India) is the executive chef and owner of New York City restaurants Graffiti, Me and You and Graffiti Earth. He is also the author of the 2008 HarperCollins cookbook "Mantra: The Rules of Indulgenc ...
(Executive Chef and owner, Graffiti, New York City); lost to Masaharu Morimoto in Battle Coconut in Season 7 * Seamus Mullen (Executive Chef and partner, Boqueria Flatiron and Boqueria Soho, New York City) * Holly Smith (Chef and owner, Cafe Juanita, Poco Carretto Gelato, Kirkland, WA) * Roberto Trevino (Executive Chef and owner, Budatai, San Juan, Puerto Rico); lost to Mario Batali in Battle Catfish in Season 1


Judges

The judges are restaurateur
Donatella Arpaia Donatella Arpaia Stewart (born September 15, 1971) is an American restaurateur and a television personality who appears on The Food Network. Arpaia is a regular judge on The Food Network's ''Iron Chef America'' and ''The Next Iron Chef''. She ha ...
, food author and long-time Iron Chef America judge Jeffrey Steingarten and
sustainable food A sustainable food system is a type of food system that provides healthy food to people and creates sustainable environmental, economic and social systems that surround food. Sustainable food systems start with the development of sustainable a ...
expert Anya Fernald.


Contestant progress

: (WIN) The chef won the series : (WIN) The chef won the challenge. : (OUT) The chef lost that week's Elimination Challenge and was out of the competition.


Results


Episode 1

*Challenge 1: Memory :* The Chairman presents each chef with an ingredient associated with their past, and challenges them to make a dish, to be presented family-style, that represents who they are. :*WINNER: Jose Garces *Challenge 2: Fearlessness :* The Chairman assigns each chef an exotic ingredient he or she may not have used before. Exercising his advantage, Chef Garces was allowed to exchange the ingredients of two chefs: Chef Crenn and Chef Mullen. :*WINNER: Nate Appleman (Unlaid Eggs) :*ELIMINATED: Eric Greenspan (Grasshoppers) *First aired: October 4, 2009


Episode 2

*Challenge 3: Simplicity :* In this challenge, the Chairman gives each chef the choice of one traditional cooking vessel from one of a variety of countries; each is designed for a one-pot style of cooking. After 45 minutes of cook time, the contestants must taste and judge their fellow competitors' dishes. :*WINNER: Jehangir Mehta *Challenge 4: Interpretation :* In the next challenge, Alton Brown assigns each chef a specific traditional dish from one of three countries; Greece, France and Italy. Each chef is given one hour to create their own interpretation of the dish they were assigned. :*WINNER: Seamus Mullen :*ELIMINATED: Holly Smith *First aired: October 11, 2009


Episode 3

*Challenge 5: Innovation, Part I :* In this challenge, the chefs are sent in pairs to various restaurants in the Los Angeles area where they must taste the restaurant's signature dish, and then are tasked to duplicate the dish from scratch in 10 minutes. The owners of the restaurant determine which of the two competitors' dishes are closest to the original. The winner is allotted an additional 5 minutes in the next challenge. :* Assignments: :** Vietnamese: Beef Pho (Chefs Crenn and Garces) :** Korean:
Dolsot A ''dolsot'' () or ''gopdolsot'' () is a small-sized piece of cookware or serveware made of agalmatolite, suitable for one to two servings of '' bap'' (cooked rice). In Korean cuisine, various hot rice dishes such as bibimbap or '' gulbap'' (oy ...
-
bibimbap Bibimbap * ( , from Korean , literally "mixed rice"), sometimes romanized as bi bim bap or bi bim bop, is a Korean rice dish. The term "bibim" means "mixing" and " bap" refers to cooked rice. ''Bibimbap'' is served as a bowl of warm white ri ...
(Chefs Appleman and Mullen) :** Thai: Green Curry with Fish Balls (Chefs Freitag and Mehta) :** Chinese: Pork and Vegetarian
Dumplings Dumpling is a broad class of dishes that consist of pieces of dough (made from a variety of starch sources), oftentimes wrapped around a filling. The dough can be based on bread, flour, buckwheat or potatoes, and may be filled with meat, fish ...
(Chefs Trevino and Farmerie) :*WINNERS: Chefs Appleman, Crenn, Frietag and Trevino *Challenge 6: Innovation, Part II :* The chefs must use inspiration from their visit to local restaurants to re-interpret a traditional American dish. :*WINNER: Seamus Mullen :*ELIMINATED: Brad Farmerie *First aired: October 18, 2009


Episode 4

*Challenge 7: Adaptability :* The Chairman presents the chefs with a challenge to test their ability to adapt: prepare two Mexican-inspired dishes, one sweet and one savory, using a surprise ingredient:
tamarind Tamarind (''Tamarindus indica'') is a leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is probably indigenous to tropical Africa. The genus ''Tamarindus'' is monotypic, meaning that it contains only this species. It belongs to the family Fabacea ...
imported from Mexico. Each chef has 90 minutes total to shop at Los Angeles's
Grand Central Market Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor * Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist * Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper Places * Grand, Oklahoma * Grand, Vosges, village and comm ...
and to cook their dishes. Late in the cooking period, host Alton Brown added a twist, when he conveyed the Chairman's wish to have a drink featuring tamarind added to the meal. :*WINNER: Jehangir Mehta :*ELIMINATED: Dominique Crenn *First aired: October 25, 2009


Episode 5

*Challenge 8: Pressure, Part I :* An Indian chef tests how well the remaining contenders perform under pressure. The chefs are to make a one-bite vegetarian representation of the taste of India. As winner of the previous challenge, Chef Mehta has first choice of ingredients. :*WINNER: Nate Appleman *Challenge 9: Pressure, Part II :* The chefs are to make a 5 course Indian dinner. This is a double-elimination challenge. As winner of the previous challenge, Chef Appleman has first choice of the protein ingredients and takes all of the red snapper. :*WINNER: Jose Garces :*ELIMINATED: Roberto Trevino and Nate Appleman :*The remaining 4 chefs receive plane tickets to travel to Tokyo where the next episode takes place. *First aired: November 1, 2009


Episode 6

*Challenge 10: Umami (Deliciousness), Part I: Yakitori :*The chefs must create five
yakitori is a Japanese type of skewered chicken. Its preparation involves skewering the meat with , a type of skewer typically made of steel, bamboo, or similar materials. Afterwards, they are grilled over a charcoal fire. During or after cooking, t ...
, each with
umami Umami ( from ja, 旨味 ), or savoriness, is one of the five basic tastes. It has been described as savory and is characteristic of broths and cooked meats. People taste umami through taste receptors that typically respond to glutamates and ...
. :*Guest Judge: Iron Chef
Masaharu Morimoto is a Japanese chef, best known as an Iron Chef on the Japanese TV cooking show ''Iron Chef'' and its spinoff ''Iron Chef America''. He is also known for his unique style of presenting food. Career Morimoto received practical training in sush ...
:*WINNER: Jehangir Mehta *Challenge 11: Umami (Deliciousness), Part II: Five Flavors of Rice :*The chefs must create five dishes featuring five flavors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami. Each dish must feature rice in some fashion, and be served in a traditional Japanese
Bentō A is the Japanese cuisine, Japanese iteration of a single-portion take-out or home-packed meal, often for lunch. Outside Japan, it is common in other East and Southeast Asian culinary styles, especially within Chinese cuisine, Chinese, Korean c ...
box. :*Guest Judge: Dr. Yukio Hattori, Director of the
Hattori Nutrition College is a cooking school in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Hattori Nutrition College offers certification courses and full degree programs in culinary arts and dietetics. There is a particular emphasis on healthy, “body-friendly” culinary te ...
. Dr. Hattori was a commentator on the original Japanese
Iron Chef is a Japanese television cooking show produced by Fuji Television. The series, which premiered on October 10, 1993, was a stylized cook-off featuring guest chefs challenging one of the show's resident "Iron Chefs" in a timed cooking battle bu ...
. :*WINNER: Jose Garces :*ELIMINATED: Amanda Freitag *First aired: November 8, 2009


Episode 7

*Challenge 12: Integrity :*Personal expression through food. :*Guest Judges: The Chairman, Dr. Yukio Hattori :*FINALISTS: Jose Garces, Jehangir Mehta :*ELIMINATED: Seamus Mullen *First aired: November 15, 2009


Episode 8

*Challenge 13: Imagination :*The final challenge was a traditional head-to-head Iron Chef battle. The secret ingredient was racks and ribs, and featured beef, pork and buffalo meat. :*Guest Judges: The Chairman, Masaharu Morimoto, Bobby Flay, Michael Symon :*WINNER: Jose Garces :*ELIMINATED: Jehangir Mehta *First aired: November 22, 2009


Season 3: 2010


Contestants

*
Marco Canora Marco Canora is an American chef, restaurateur and television personality. He has appeared on the Food Network on shows such as The Next Iron Chef, Chopped and Top Chef. Canora owns the Hearth Restaurant and Terroir wine bar in New York and is al ...
(chef and owner of Hearth, Terroir and Terroir TriBeca in New York City) * Bryan Caswell (chef and owner of Reef, Stella Sola and Little Bigs in Houston, Texas) *
Maneet Chauhan Maneet Chauhan (born 27 October 1976 in Ludhiana, Punjab) is an Indian American chef and television personality. Previously the Executive Chef of several notable restaurants in Chicago, Nashville, and New York, she is featured as a judge on '' ...
(chef at Vermillion in Chicago, Illinois and New York), lost to Masaharu Morimoto in Battle Leeks in Season 8 *
Mary Dumont Mary Dumont is an American chef based in Boston, Massachusetts. Biography Dumont has made appearances on ''The Today Show'' and '' Iron Chef America'' (competing against Cat Cora) and is the former chef of Harvest in Cambridge, Massachusetts, whe ...
(Executive Chef at Harvest in Cambridge, Massachusetts), lost to Cat Cora in Battle Milk and Cream in Season 5 *
Duskie Estes Duskie Lynn Estes (born August 4, 1968) is an American chef and restaurateur. Early life and career Estes is the youngest child born to a scientist father and to Carroll L. Estes, a sociology professor. She studied pre-med and law at Brown Uni ...
(chef and owner of Zazu Restaurant and Farm, Bovolo and Black Pig Meat Company in Sonoma County, California) *
Marc Forgione Marc Forgione is an American chef who formerly competed in Food Network's ''Iron Chef America'' and is now the owner of Restaurant Marc Forgione in Tribeca, New York City. He was born on December 16, 1978, and raised in Bellerose, New York. Chef ...
(chef and owner of Marc Forgione in New York), sous chef for
Laurent Tourondel Laurent may refer to: *Laurent (name), a French masculine given name and a surname **Saint Laurence (aka: Saint ''Laurent''), the martyr Laurent **Pierre Alphonse Laurent, mathematician **Joseph Jean Pierre Laurent, amateur astronomer, discoverer ...
, winner of Battle Goat Cheese in Season 3 * Andrew Kirschner (Executive chef at Wilshire in Santa Monica, California) * Mario Pagán (chef and owner of Chayote and Lemongrass in Puerto Rico) * Celina Tio (chef and owner of Julian in Kansas City, Missouri) *
Ming Tsai Ming Hao Tsai (; born March 29, 1964) is an American restaurateur, television personality, and celebrity chef. Tsai's restaurants have focused on east–west fusion cuisine, and have included major stakes in Blue Ginger in Wellesley, Massachuse ...
(chef and owner of Blue Ginger in Wellesley, Massachusetts), defeated Bobby Flay in Battle Duck in Season 1


Judges

The judges are restaurateur
Donatella Arpaia Donatella Arpaia Stewart (born September 15, 1971) is an American restaurateur and a television personality who appears on The Food Network. Arpaia is a regular judge on The Food Network's ''Iron Chef America'' and ''The Next Iron Chef''. She ha ...
, food writer and broadcaster
Simon Majumdar Simon Majumdar (born April 7, 1964) is a British-born food and travel author, and food television personality. He has appeared on many Food Network shows and is based in Los Angeles and London. He also judges tables on shows such as ''Iron Chef''. ...
and current Iron Chef
Michael Symon Michael D. Symon (born September 19, 1969) is an American chef, restaurateur, television personality, and author. He is of Greek, Sicilian, and Eastern European descent. He is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as ''Iron Chef America' ...
, winner of the Season 1 competition.


Contestant progress

: (WIN) The chef won the series. : (WIN) The chef won the challenge. : (OUT) The chef lost that week's Elimination Challenge and was out of the competition.


Results


Episode 1: Ingenuity

*Secret Ingredient Challenge (Secret Ingredient: Bread): Each chef must make a sandwich expressing his or her culinary style :*WINNER: Duskie Estes *Chairman's Challenge: Cook a dish on the beach, using tropical ingredients. Their dish must feature the one food they would want to have on a deserted island. As the winner of the Secret Ingredient Challenge, Chef Estes was able to have a five-minute advantage to grab ingredients from the "pantry" and start cooking. :*WINNER: Ming Tsai :*ELIMINATED: Andrew Kirschner *First aired: October 3, 2010


Episode 2: Innovation

*Secret Ingredient Challenge (Secret Ingredients: Coffee and Donuts): Create a breakfast transforming these two ingredients. :*WINNER: Maneet Chauhan :*DISADVANTAGE: Mary Dumont *Chairman's Challenge: Roadside diner classics As the winner of the previous challenge, Maneet Chauhan was able to assign the dishes to prepare to each chef. Mary Dumont, having come in last, received a one-minute penalty assessed at the beginning. :*WINNER: Marc Forgione :*ELIMINATED: Mario Pagán *First aired: October 10, 2010


Episode 3: Resourcefulness

*Secret Ingredient Challenge (Secret Ingredients: Pickles): Create a "portable snack" expressing the ingredient's versatility. :*WINNER: Marc Forgione :*DISADVANTAGE: Duskie Estes *Chairman's Challenge: Create two dishes that revolve around the fishes the chefs caught. Chefs who were short on fish were also allowed to use sardines as a focus ingredient too. As the winner of the previous challenge, Marc Forgione was able to replace one of his caught fishes with someone else. He replaced one of his scorpion fishes with Celina Tio's caught snapper as a result. Duskie Estes, having come in last, received a one-minute penalty assessed at the beginning. :*WINNER: Marco Canora :*ELIMINATED: Mary Dumont *First aired: October 17, 2010


Episode 4: Transformation

*Secret Ingredient Challenge (Secret Ingredients: Condiments): Each chef is assigned to transform a selected condiment, such as mayonnaise, ketchup, or ranch dressing, into a dish featuring the condiment. :*WINNER: Celina Tio :*DISADVANTAGE: Maneet Chauhan *Chairman's Challenge: At the San Diego County Fair, each chef must transform ingredients found at the fair's concession stands into three dishes: one fried, one on a stick, and one grilled. All dishes must be prepared on a large outdoor grill. As the winner of the previous challenge, Celina Tio had a five-minute head start in the 30-minute hunt for ingredients on the fair grounds. Maneet Chauhan, having come in last, received a one-minute penalty assessed at the beginning of cooking. :*WINNER: Celina Tio :*ELIMINATED: Duskie Estes *First aired: October 24, 2010


Episode 5: Respect

*Secret Ingredient Challenge (Secret Ingredient: Potatoes) :*WINNER: Marco Canora :*DISADVANTAGE: Marc Forgione *Chairman's Challenge: Each chef was challenged to cook four dishes; one each representing the northern, southern, eastern and western regions of the United States. :*WINNER: Ming Tsai :*ELIMINATED: Maneet Chauhan *First aired: October 31, 2010 Note: In this episode, Iron Chef
Jose Garces Jose Garces is an Ecuadorian American chef, restaurant owner, and Iron Chef. He was born in Chicago to Ecuadorian parents. He won in the second season of ''The Next Iron Chef''. Garces studied Culinary Arts at Kendall College in Chicago, graduat ...
served as a guest judge, substituting for fellow Iron Chef Michael Symon.


Episode 6: Inspiration

*Secret Ingredient Challenge (Secret Ingredient: Chocolate): The chefs were given two hours to create a dessert display. :*WINNER: Ming Tsai *Chairman's Challenge: Each chef was tasked with creating his or her own buffet display and was given 3 hours to create three hot and two cold entrees. As winner of the previous challenge, Ming Tsai was given a one-minute head start on selecting his ingredients. :*WINNER: Marco Canora :*ELIMINATED: Bryan Caswell (This episode was originally intended to be a double elimination. However, because there was a three-way tie for the second chef to be eliminated, the remaining four chefs were allowed to continue to the next round.) *First aired: November 7, 2010


Episode 7: Seduction

*Secret Ingredient Challenge (Secret Ingredient: Liquor): Create a cocktail along with a suitable bar food snack to associate with the drink. :*WINNER: Marco Canora *Chairman's Challenge: Seduce the judges by creating three luxurious dishes featuring one luxury protein. Each chef selected a safe containing an unknown quality ingredient in turn, before collecting additional ingredients from four fine dining restaurants in 30 minutes. Marco Canora had the advantage to trade his unopened safe for another chef's ingredient, along with selecting at which restaurant each chef will begin gathering ingredients. Canora traded his unopened safe for Tsai's ingredient: Wagyū beef. :*WINNER: Marco Canora :*ELIMINATED: Celina Tio, Ming Tsai *First aired: November 14, 2010


Episode 8: Honor

Secret Ingredient: Thanksgiving Feast (heritage turkey, white pekin duck, venison, lobster) :*WINNER: Marc Forgione :*ELIMINATED: Marco Canora *First aired: November 21, 2010


Season 4: 2011: Super Chefs


Contestants

* Anne Burrell (Host of ''
Secrets of a Restaurant Chef ''Secrets of a Restaurant Chef'' is an American cooking television series that aired on Food Network. It was presented by chef Anne Burrell; and the series featured Burrell demonstrating how to cook restaurant A restaurant is a business that ...
'' and ''
Worst Cooks in America ''Worst Cooks in America'' is an American reality television series that premiered on January3, 2010, on Food Network. The show takes 12 to 16 contestants (referred to as "recruits") with very poor cooking skills through a culinary boot camp, t ...
'', also sous-chef for Mario Batali on ''Iron Chef America''); while being partnered with Michael Symon both defeated Cat Cora and Robert Irvine in Battle Deep Freeze in Season 9 *
Michael Chiarello Michael Chiarello (born January 26, 1962) is an American celebrity chef specializing in Italian-influenced California cuisine. He hosts the cooking show ''Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello'' on Food Network and hosts ''NapaStyle'' on Fi ...
(Owner of Bottega Restaurant, Napa Valley; host of ''Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello'') *
Elizabeth Falkner Elizabeth Falkner (born February 12, 1966) is an American chef, pastry chef, author, restaurateur, and consulting chef. She has appeared as a competitor and sometimes a judge on reality television cooking competitions, and she is a Top Chef tele ...
(Owner of Citizen Cake and Orson, San Francisco); lost to Cat Cora in Battle Honey in Season 3. Also has appeared on ''Food Network Challenge'' *
Alex Guarnaschelli {{Infobox chef , name = Alex Guarnaschelli , image = , caption = , birth_date = {{birth date and age, 1969, 6, 20 , birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. , birth_name = Alexandra Maria Guarnaschell ...
(Chef and Owner, Butter and The Darby, New York; Host, ''Alex’s Day Off'', Judge, ''Chopped''); lost to Cat Cora in Battle Farmers' Market in Season 5 *
Chuck Hughes Charles Frederick Hughes (March 2, 1943 – October 24, 1971) was an American football player, a wide receiver in the National Football League from 1967 to 1971. , he is the only NFL player to die on the field during a game. Early years Born ...
(Chef and Owner, Garde Manger, Montreal; Host, ''Chuck’s Day Off'' Cooking Channel); defeated Bobby Flay in Battle Canadian Lobster in Season 9 *
Robert Irvine Robert Paul Irvine (; born 24 September 1965) is an English celebrity chef and talk show host who has appeared on and hosted a variety of Food Network programs including '' Dinner: Impossible'', ''Worst Cooks in America'', '' Restaurant: Imposs ...
(Chef and Owner, Robert Irvine's eat!, Hilton Head Island; Host, ''Dinner: Impossible'', ''Restaurant: Impossible'', ''Worst Cooks in America''); has lost twice while being partnered on special holiday episodes of Iron Chef America *
Beau MacMillan Beau MacMillan (born March 4, 1971) is an American chef and television personality. He is the executive chef for Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, an upscale resort in Arizona, and its featured restaurant, ''elements''. He is also known by hi ...
(Executive Chef, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Phoenix; Host, ''Worst Cooks in America''); defeated Bobby Flay in Battle American Kobe Beef in Season 3 *
Spike Mendelsohn Evangelos Spiros "Spike" Mendelsohn (born December 15, 1980) is a Washington, D.C.-based chef and restaurateur best known as the fifth-place finisher of the fourth season of ''Top Chef'', which aired 2008–2009. He is the chef and owner of multi ...
(Chef and Owner, Good Stuff Eatery, Washington D.C.; Host, ''Kelsey & Spike Cook''
ood2.com The Ood are an alien species with telepathic abilities from the long-running science fiction series ''Doctor Who''. In the series' narrative, they live in the distant future (circa 42nd century). The Ood are portrayed as a slave race, natural ...
contestant on ''Top Chef'' (season 4)); lost to Michael Symon in Battle Prosciutto in Season 8 *
Marcus Samuelsson 25 January 1971) is an Ethiopian-born Swedish-American celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality. He is the head chef of Red Rooster in Harlem, New York. Early life and education Kassahun Joar Tsegie was born in Ethiopia. His fa ...
(Chef and Owner, Red Rooster Harlem, New York; Judge, ''24 Hour Restaurant Battle'', ''Chopped'', ''Next Food Network Star''); lost to Bobby Flay in Battle Corn in Season 6 *
Geoffrey Zakarian Geoffrey Zakarian (born July 25, 1959) is an American chef, restaurateur, television personality and author. He is the executive chef of several restaurants in New York City, Atlantic City and Miami. Gillespie, Nick and Amanda Winkler (2013-11- ...
(Chef and Owner, The National and The Lambs Club, New York; Judge, ''24 Hour Restaurant Battle'', ''Chopped''); lost to Masaharu Morimoto in Battle Sardines in Season 8


Judges

The judges for season four were current Iron Chef
Michael Symon Michael D. Symon (born September 19, 1969) is an American chef, restaurateur, television personality, and author. He is of Greek, Sicilian, and Eastern European descent. He is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as ''Iron Chef America' ...
, food writer and broadcaster
Simon Majumdar Simon Majumdar (born April 7, 1964) is a British-born food and travel author, and food television personality. He has appeared on many Food Network shows and is based in Los Angeles and London. He also judges tables on shows such as ''Iron Chef''. ...
, and Iron Chef
Judy Joo Judy Joo is a chef and television personality. She is best known as being the host of Food Network's "Korean Food Made Simple" and an ''Iron Chef UK'' and her restaurant Seoul Bird in London. Joo splits her time between New York City, London, and ...
from ''Iron Chef UK''.


Contestant progress

: (WIN) The chef won the series. : (WIN) The chef won the chairman's challenge. : (CO) The chef competed in and won the cook-off. : (OUT) The chef lost that week's elimination challenge and cook-off and was eliminated from the competition.


Results


Episode 1: Resourcefulness

* Chairman's Challenge: "Primal: Heat and Meat" : Chefs are paired in teams of two, with Chef Spike choosing the teams. The teams are taken to a remote wilderness location, where they must butcher a half-hog, build a fire, and make two collaborative dishes that demonstrate resourcefulness. The least successful team is sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown. :Teams # Spike Mendelsohn and Marcus Samuelsson # Anne Burrell and Robert Irvine # Alex Guarnaschelli and Elizabeth Falkner # Geoffrey Zakarian and Beau MacMillan # Michael Chiarello and Chuck Hughes :* WINNERS:
Geoffrey Zakarian Geoffrey Zakarian (born July 25, 1959) is an American chef, restaurateur, television personality and author. He is the executive chef of several restaurants in New York City, Atlantic City and Miami. Gillespie, Nick and Amanda Winkler (2013-11- ...
and Beau MacMillan :* BOTTOM TWO: Spike Mendelsohn and Marcus Samuelsson * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Scallops : With the choice of two ingredients under red and black covers, the chefs agree upon a selection. Chefs Spike and Marcus chose the ingredient under the red cover, which was large sea scallops, while the other ingredient, hidden under the black cover, was canned tuna. They are given 30 minutes to produce one dish of Iron Chef quality using the selected ingredient. :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION:
Marcus Samuelsson 25 January 1971) is an Ethiopian-born Swedish-American celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality. He is the head chef of Red Rooster in Harlem, New York. Early life and education Kassahun Joar Tsegie was born in Ethiopia. His fa ...
:* ELIMINATED: Spike Mendelsohn * First aired: October 30, 2011


Episode 2: Transformation

* Chairman's Challenge: "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" : The chefs are given 15 minutes to gather necessary ingredients from ballpark vendors and 60 minutes to transform two stadium classics at
Petco Park Petco Park is a baseball stadium in Downtown San Diego, California. It is the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres, and has also been used as a venue for concerts, soccer, golf, and rugby. The ballpark is located bet ...
. Because they won the first Chairman's Challenge, Chefs Zakarian and MacMillan are given an additional five minutes for gathering ingredients. The two least successful chefs are sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown. :* WINNER: Alex Guarnaschelli :* BOTTOM TWO: Robert Irvine and Michael Chiarello * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Peanuts :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Michael Chiarello :* ELIMINATED: Robert Irvine * First Aired: November 6, 2011


Episode 3: Ingenuity

* Chairman's Challenge: "Let's All Go to the Lobby" : The chefs are asked to create two dishes (one sweet and one savory) demonstrating ingenuity using movie theater candy in 60 minutes. Because she won the second Chairman's Challenge, Chef Guarnaschelli is allowed to select her candy and chose the other chefs' candy. The two least successful chefs are sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown. Ingredient Order: # Chocolate Covered Raisins: Chef Guarnaschelli # Malt Balls: Chef Falkner # Popcorn: Chef Hughes # Gummy Candy: Chef Chiarello # Cinnamon Candy: Chef Zakarian # Root Beer: Chef Burrell # Chocolate Covered Caramels: Chef Samuelsson # Sweet and Sour Candy: Chef MacMillan :* WINNER: Elizabeth Falkner :* BOTTOM TWO: Chuck Hughes and Beau MacMillan * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Tofu :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Beau MacMillan :* ELIMINATED: Chuck Hughes * First Aired: November 13, 2011


Episode 4: Improvisation

* Chairman's Challenge: "Food is Funny" : Comedian Kevin Nealon meets the chefs at the Improv Comedy Club and selects four mandatory ingredients the chefs must use: ''Octopus, Kumquats, Tortillas, and Marshmallows''. The chefs must cook a dish using all four ingredients in 45 minutes. Because she won the third Chairman's Challenge, Chef Falkner is given five extra minutes to start the preparation of her dish. The two least successful chefs are sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown. :* WINNER: Michael Chiarello :* BOTTOM TWO: Geoffrey Zakarian and Beau MacMillan * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Coconuts :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Geoffrey Zakarian :* ELIMINATED: Beau MacMillan * First Aired: November 20, 2011


Episode 5: Storytelling

* Chairman's Challenge: "New York on a Plate" : The chefs create a culinary story based on a postcard drawing of New York City landmarks. Because he won the previous Chairman's Challenge, Chef Chiarello is given the choice of landmarks. The chefs have 20 minutes to shop at the Grand Central Market and 45 minutes to cook for six people (the original four judges, along with Iron Chef
Marc Forgione Marc Forgione is an American chef who formerly competed in Food Network's ''Iron Chef America'' and is now the owner of Restaurant Marc Forgione in Tribeca, New York City. He was born on December 16, 1978, and raised in Bellerose, New York. Chef ...
and Chef Charlie Palmer) at the
Grand Central Terminal Grand Central Terminal (GCT; also referred to as Grand Central Station or simply as Grand Central) is a commuter rail terminal located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Grand Central is the southern terminus ...
. The two least successful chefs are sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown. Landmark Order: # Statue of Liberty : Chef Chiarello # Times Square: Chef Zakarian # Broadway: Chef Samuelsson # Empire State Building: Chef Guarnaschelli # Central Park : Chef Burrell # Brooklyn Bridge : Chef Falkner :* WINNER: Anne Burrell :* BOTTOM TWO: Marcus Samuelsson and Elizabeth Falkner * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Bagels :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Elizabeth Falkner :* ELIMINATED: Marcus Samuelsson * First Aired: November 27, 2011


Episode 6: Risk

* Chairman's Challenge: "Food Auction" : The Chairman takes the chefs to an auction house in Chelsea, where they each place bids on the shortest amount of time in which they think they can create a dish with each ingredient presented. The fifth ingredient is given to the last remaining chef after all the other ingredients have been won. The chef with the last ingredient gets five minutes less than the lowest bid on any other ingredient. The lowest bid is 25 minutes by Chefs Chiarello and Falkner, therefore giving Chef Guarnaschelli 20 minutes to cook a leg of lamb. By winning the last Chairman's Challenge, Chef Burrell is allowed to be the fourth taster and the least successful chef selected by Chef Burrell (Chef Zakarian) is sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown along with the other least successful chef chosen by the three regular judges. Ingredient Order: # Canned Sardines: Chef Burrell (50 minutes) # Wagyu Beef: Chef Zakarian (30 minutes) # Maine Lobster: Chef Chiarello (25 minutes) # Tuna Jerky: Chef Falkner (25 minutes) # Leg of Lamb: Chef Guarnaschelli (20 minutes) :* WINNER: Elizabeth Falkner :* BOTTOM TWO: Anne Burrell and Geoffrey Zakarian * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Ponzu and Panko Bread Crumb Dessert :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Geoffrey Zakarian :* ELIMINATED: Anne Burrell * First Aired: December 4, 2011


Episode 7: Passion

* Chairman's Challenge: "Hamptons Beach Cookout" : The competitors cater a beach cookout for 20 guests, plus the judges, at the Montauk Yacht Club. The chefs are given $500 and two hours to source their own ingredients. Once completed, each chef is given two hours to prepare a three course seafood
tasting menu A tasting menu is a collection of several dishes in small portions, served by a restaurant as a single meal. The French name for a tasting menu is ''menu dégustation''. Some restaurants and chefs specialize in tasting menus, while in other case ...
that demonstrates their passion for food. Because she won the previous Chairman's Challenge, Chef Falkner is given a 15 minute head start and a ride in a speedboat to her first location to gather ingredients. A winner is declared for this challenge, the least successful chef is eliminated, and the two remaining chefs go to the Secret Ingredient Showdown in Kitchen Stadium. :* WINNER (advances to the Finale): Geoffrey Zakarian :* ELIMINATED: Alex Guarnaschelli * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Three-Bite Crackers and Wine Appetizer Course :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Elizabeth Falkner :* ELIMINATED: Michael Chiarello * First Aired: December 11, 2011


Episode 8: Pressure

* Chairman's Challenge: "Holiday Meal" : Chefs Falkner and Zakarian face a pressure-filled finale in Kitchen Stadium, where the secret ingredients are: ''Beef Crown Roast, Candy Canes, Clementines, Acorn & Butternut Squash, Salt Cod, Brussels Sprouts, Unfiltered Apple Cider and Parsnips''. They must create three Christmas theme dishes with those ingredients for guest judges
Bobby Flay Robert William Flay (born December 10, 1964), is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and reality television personality. Flay is the owner and executive chef of several restaurants and franchises, including Bobby's Burger Palace, Bobby's ...
and
Masaharu Morimoto is a Japanese chef, best known as an Iron Chef on the Japanese TV cooking show ''Iron Chef'' and its spinoff ''Iron Chef America''. He is also known for his unique style of presenting food. Career Morimoto received practical training in sush ...
along with the regular three judges and the Chairman. During the course of the battle, the Chairman's first surprise forces the chefs to use cranberries as another theme ingredient they must create a dish with. Also, he gives them the choice of one former competitor to cook with for 15 minutes on each side of the kitchen, and they both choose Chef Guarnaschelli. The Chairman's second surprise given to the chefs is to create a frozen dessert using the ice cream machine. The Chairman's final surprise is for each chef to make a "holiday-themed" cocktail served in a martini glass. :* WINNER: Geoffrey Zakarian :* ELIMINATED: Elizabeth Falkner * First Aired: December 18, 2011


Season 5: 2012: Redemption


Contestants

* Duskie Estes (chef and owner of Zazu Restaurant and Farm, Bovolo and Black Pig Meat Company in Sonoma County, California); Redemption from Season 3 *
Elizabeth Falkner Elizabeth Falkner (born February 12, 1966) is an American chef, pastry chef, author, restaurateur, and consulting chef. She has appeared as a competitor and sometimes a judge on reality television cooking competitions, and she is a Top Chef tele ...
(Owner of Citizen Cake and Orson, San Francisco); lost to Cat Cora in Battle Honey in Season 3. Also has appeared on Food Network Challenge; Redemption from Season 4 *
Alex Guarnaschelli {{Infobox chef , name = Alex Guarnaschelli , image = , caption = , birth_date = {{birth date and age, 1969, 6, 20 , birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. , birth_name = Alexandra Maria Guarnaschell ...
(Chef and Owner, Butter and The Darby, New York; Host, Alex's Day Off, Judge, Chopped); lost to Cat Cora in Battle Farmers' Market in Season 5; Redemption from Season 4 * Spike Mendelsohn (Chef and Owner, Good Stuff Eatery, Washington D.C.; Host, Kelsey & Spike Cook
ood2.com The Ood are an alien species with telepathic abilities from the long-running science fiction series ''Doctor Who''. In the series' narrative, they live in the distant future (circa 42nd century). The Ood are portrayed as a slave race, natural ...
lost to Michael Symon in Battle Prosciutto in Season 8; Redemption from Season 4 * Nate Appleman (Executive Chef and partner, Pulino's Bar and Pizzeria, New York City); lost to Michael Symon in Battle Suckling Pig in Season 7; Redemption from Season 2 *
Amanda Freitag Amanda Freitag (born May 11, 1972) is an American celebrity chef, and cookbook author. She is known for her frequent guest on Food Network television programs and work as a judge on the television cooking competitions. She is based in New York Cit ...
(Executive Chef, The Harrison, New York City); lost to Bobby Flay in Battle Alaskan King Crab in Season 7; Judge, Chopped; Redemption from Season 2 * Eric Greenspan (Executive Chef and owner, The Foundry on Melrose, Los Angeles); beat Bobby Flay in Battle Goose in Season 8; Redemption from Season 2 *
Jehangir Mehta Jehangir Mehta (born July 9, 1971 in Mumbai, India) is the executive chef and owner of New York City restaurants Graffiti, Me and You and Graffiti Earth. He is also the author of the 2008 HarperCollins cookbook "Mantra: The Rules of Indulgenc ...
(Executive Chef and owner, Graffiti, New York City); lost to Masaharu Morimoto in Battle Coconut in Season 7; Redemption from Season 2 *
Marcel Vigneron Marcel Vigneron is an American celebrity chef best known for his award-winning restaurant and catering company, Wolf, in Los Angeles. Marcel was also the runner-up of the second season of ''Top Chef'', which aired in 2006–2007. In 2011, he ha ...
(Owner of the catering company Modern Global Tasting, Los Angeles, California) *
Tim Love Tim Love is a chef best known for urban western cuisine. He is the owner and executive chef of several Fort Worth-area restaurants including the historic White Elephant Saloon, the Love Shack, the Woodshed Smokehouse, as well as his flagship res ...
(Executive Chef and owner, The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Fort Worth, Texas); beat Masaharu Morimoto in Battle Chile in Season 4


Judges

The judges for this season are: Iron Chef
Geoffrey Zakarian Geoffrey Zakarian (born July 25, 1959) is an American chef, restaurateur, television personality and author. He is the executive chef of several restaurants in New York City, Atlantic City and Miami. Gillespie, Nick and Amanda Winkler (2013-11- ...
, restaurateur
Donatella Arpaia Donatella Arpaia Stewart (born September 15, 1971) is an American restaurateur and a television personality who appears on The Food Network. Arpaia is a regular judge on The Food Network's ''Iron Chef America'' and ''The Next Iron Chef''. She ha ...
, and food writer
Simon Majumdar Simon Majumdar (born April 7, 1964) is a British-born food and travel author, and food television personality. He has appeared on many Food Network shows and is based in Los Angeles and London. He also judges tables on shows such as ''Iron Chef''. ...
.


Contestant progress

: (WIN) The chef won the series. : (WIN) The chef won the chairman's challenge. : (CO) The chef competed in and won the cook-off. : (OUT) The chef lost that week's elimination challenge and cook-off and was eliminated from the competition.


Results


Episode 1: Resourcefulness

* Chairman's Challenge: "Resourcefulness" : Chefs are brought to a beach and given an ingredient that they struggled with in a previous competition. :Ingredients # Alex Guarnaschelli: Lobster # Amanda Freitag: Shiitake Mushrooms # Duskie Estes: Calamari # Elizabeth Falkner: Black Garlic # Eric Greenspan: Grasshoppers # Jehangir Mehta: Buffalo # Marcel Vigneron: Avocado # Nate Appleman: Banana # Spike Mendelsohn: Scallops # Tim Love: Kale :* WINNER: Alex Guarnaschelli :* BOTTOM TWO: Spike Mendelsohn and Tim Love * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Pineapple : The chefs have 30 minutes to create a dish featuring pineapple. Chef Love creates a dish of grilled quail, fried kale, and pickled pineapple. Chef Mendelsohn creates a Vietnamese-inspired sweet and sour branzino. :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Spike Mendelsohn :* ELIMINATED: Tim Love * First aired: November 4, 2012


Episode 2: Innovation

* Chairman's Challenge: "Innovation" : Chefs are divided into three groups of three, each of which has to develop an innovative version of a global dish - falafel, tacos, or banh mi. As the winning chef of the previous chairman's challenge, Chef Guarnaschelli was allowed to assign each chef to a group. :Groups # Tacos: Alex Guarnaschelli, Spike Mendelsohn, Duskie Estes # Banh Mi: Eric Greenspan, Nate Appleman, Elizabeth Falkner # Falafel: Jehangir Mehta, Marcel Vigneron, Amanda Freitag :* WINNER: Jehangir Mehta (Eric Greenspan and Alex Guarnaschelli were top in their respective groups) :* BOTTOM THREE: Elizabeth Falkner, Amanda Freitag, and Duskie Estes * Secret Ingredient Showdown: White bread : The chefs have thirty minutes to make a dish highlighting plain white bread. Chef Freitag makes pork meatballs with parmesan breadcrumbs, Chef Estes makes egg yolk ravioli with bacon brown butter croutons and Chef Falkner makes a Monte Cristo sandwich with french toast ice cream. :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Elizabeth Falkner and Amanda Freitag :* ELIMINATED: Duskie Estes * First aired: November 11, 2012


Episode 3: Simplicity

* Chairman's Challenge: "Simplicity" : Each chef is photographed by food/chef photographer
Todd Selby Todd Selby is a photographer, illustrator, and author. He is a style photographer who shoots the interiors of cultural figures’ homes worldwide. According to the New York Times "he is becoming a kind of Horst of the hip set." Todd is "famous in ...
. The chefs are then split up into four groups of two, with each chef making an amuse bouche that reflects the personality of their opponent. The losing chef in each pairing must cook for their life. As the winner of the previous challenge, Chef Mehta splits up the chefs. :Groups # Alex Guarnaschelli and Marcel Vigneron # Elizabeth Falkner and Amanda Freitag # Nate Appleman and Eric Greenspan # Jehangir Mehta and Spike Mendelsohn :* WINNER: Amanda Freitag (Spike Mendelsohn, Alex Guarnaschelli and Nate Appleman won their respective matchups) :* BOTTOM FOUR: Elizabeth Falkner, Jehangir Mehta, Marcel Vigneron and Eric Greenspan * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Cereal : The chefs must create a dish containing Kellogg's Raisin Bran and Rice Krispies. Chef Vigneron makes a Rice Krispies and Raisin Bran treat with coconut ice cream, Chef Falkner makes a Rice Krispies and Raisin Bran tartufo bianco, Chef Greenspan makes a Rice Krispies crusted tuna over a Raisin Bran purée, and Chef Mehta makes a Rice Krispies crab cake and Raisin Bran chevda. :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Elizabeth Falkner, Marcel Vigneron and Jehangir Mehta :* ELIMINATED: Eric Greenspan * First aired: November 18, 2012


Episode 4: Transformation

* Chairman's Challenge: "Transformation" : Each chef is asked to transform a canned meat into a high-class dish. The chefs were told to choose from an assortment of cans on the table. Three of the cans only had a question mark on their labels. As the winner of the previous challenge, Chef Freitag chose last and was given the option to steal one of her opponent's cans, forcing them to choose from whatever was left on the table, but she declined. :Ingredients # Vigneron: Canned Clams # Mehta: Mystery Can (Chicken) # Mendelsohn: Canned Vienna Sausage # Guarnaschelli: Canned Spiced Ham # Falkner: Mystery Can (Roast Beef) # Appleman: Mystery Can (Tuna) # Freitag: Canned Corned Beef :* WINNER: Elizabeth Falkner :* BOTTOM TWO: Marcel Vigneron and Spike Mendelsohn * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Lobster : The chefs have thirty minutes to make a dish highlighting lobster as the main ingredient. Chef Mendelsohn makes lobster laksa while Chef Vigneron makes lobster and mango salad. The chefs made the decision to plate their dishes on the same plate. This decision displeased the judges, to the point where they considered eliminating both chefs. :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Marcel Vigneron :* ELIMINATED: Spike Mendelsohn * First aired: November 25, 2012


Episode 5: Risk

* Chairman's Challenge: "Risk" :The chefs walk into an airplane hangar, where they each place bids on the shortest amount of time in which they think they can create a dish with each ingredient presented. The sixth ingredient is given to the last remaining chef after all the other ingredients have been won. The chef with the last ingredient gets five minutes less than the lowest bid on any other ingredient. The lowest bid is 25 minutes by Chef Mehta, therefore giving Chef Appleman 20 minutes to create a dish out of
mortadella Mortadella () is a large Italian sausage or luncheon meat ('' salume'' ) made of finely hashed or ground heat-cured pork, which incorporates at least 15% small cubes of pork fat (principally the hard fat from the neck of the pig). It is tradi ...
. By winning the last Chairman's Challenge, Chef Falkner is allowed to be the fourth taster and the least successful chef selected by Chef Falkner (Chef Appleman) is sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown along with the other least successful chef chosen by the three regular judges. It is also noted here that the remaining five contestants next week will be going to Vegas. : :Ingredients # Cow Heads: Marcel Vigneron (50 minutes) # Paiche: Elizabeth Falkner (50 minutes) # Bison Ribs: Alex Guarnaschelli (45 minutes) # Wheel of Parmesan: Amanda Freitag (40 minutes) # Ostrich Eggs: Jehangir Mehta (25 minutes) # Mortadella: Nate Appleman (20 minutes) :* WINNER: Marcel Vigneron :* BOTTOM TWO: Nate Appleman and Elizabeth Falkner * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Anchovies : The chefs have thirty minutes to make a dish highlighting anchovies as the main ingredient. :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Nate Appleman :* ELIMINATED: Elizabeth Falkner * First aired: December 2, 2012


Episode 6: Fusion

*Chairman's Challenge: "Fusion" :The chefs arrive in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand and find out they will be attending a wedding. It is a wedding between two unlikely ingredients. As the winner of the previous challenge, Chef Vigneron gets to choose who gets what pairing he will use and decide the pairings to be used by the remaining chefs. They have 45 minutes to make a dish with the following pairings. # Blue Cheese and Peanut Butter: Marcel Vigneron # Bone Marrow and Rainbow Candies: Jehangir Mehta # Clams and Strawberries: Nate Appleman # Chicken Liver and Peppermint Candies: Alex Guarnaschelli # Calamari and Miniature Marshmallows: Amanda Freitag :*WINNER: Amanda Freitag :*BOTTOM TWO: Nate Appleman and Jehangir Mehta * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Shrimp : The chefs have thirty minutes to make a dish highlighting shrimp as the main ingredient, while using a traditional Japanese teppanyaki grill. :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Nate Appleman :* ELIMINATED: Jehangir Mehta * First aired: December 9, 2012


Episode 7: Transcendence

*Chairman's Challenge: "Transcendence" :The chefs are tasked to prepare a buffet featuring a mystery ingredient chosen by magician
David Copperfield ''David Copperfield'' Dickens invented over 14 variations of the title for this work, see is a novel in the bildungsroman genre by Charles Dickens, narrated by the eponymous David Copperfield, detailing his adventures in his journey from inf ...
:
bacon Bacon is a type of salt-cured pork made from various cuts, typically the belly or less fatty parts of the back. It is eaten as a side dish (particularly in breakfasts), used as a central ingredient (e.g., the bacon, lettuce, and tomato sand ...
. Chef Freitag, as the winner of the previous challenge, splits the chefs into pairs. # Amanda Freitag and Nate Appleman # Alex Guarnaschelli and Marcel Vigneron :*WINNERS: Amanda Freitag and Nate Appleman :*BOTTOM TWO: Alex Guarnaschelli and Marcel Vigneron * Secret Ingredient Showdown: Chocolate : The chefs are asked to choose two types of Hershey's candy and make a savory dish with a holiday theme. Chef Vigneron makes roasted lamb with eggplant camponata and white chocolate curry risotto. Chef Guarnaschelli makes duck breast and white chocolate, fennel and cherry salad with a fried duck heart and dark chocolate. :* CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Alex Guarnaschelli :* ELIMINATED: Marcel Vigneron * First aired: December 16, 2012


Episode 8: Passion and Respect

*Chairman's Challenges: "Passion" and "Respect" :The season finale consists of two challenges of Passion and Respect. First in the Passion challenge, the remaining chefs are tasked to create in 45 minutes a dish using an ingredient one of the judges is passionate about. The two most successful chefs proceed to the finale in Kitchen Stadium, while the least successful chef is eliminated. :Ingredients # Farm-raised Chicken (Geoffrey Zakarian): Amanda Freitag # Haddock (Simon Majumdar): Nate Appleman # Sea Urchin (Donatella Arpaia): Alex Guarnaschelli :*CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Amanda Freitag and Alex Guarnaschelli :*ELIMINATED: Nate Appleman :In Kitchen Stadium, the final Respect challenge requires Chef Guarnaschelli and Chef Freitag to create three dishes in one hour, assisted by two sous chefs each. Each of their offerings must include two ingredients per dish that are staples in the dishes of three senior Iron Chefs: Iron Chef Bobby Flay, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, and Iron Chef Michael Symon. The Chefs are told to pay respect to the Iron Chefs' signature flavors, while still cooking in their own style and showcasing their own abilities. Iron Chefs Flay, Morimoto, and Symon also appear as guest judges along with the three regular judges. :Ingredients # Bobby Flay: Corn, Avocado, Limes, Chili Peppers # Masaharu Morimoto: Panko, Ponzu, Soy Sauce, Miso, Daikon Radish, Wasabi # Michael Symon: Eggplant, Feta Cheese, Olives, Phyllo Dough :* WINNER: Alex Guarnaschelli :* ELIMINATED: Amanda Freitag * First aired: December 23, 2012


Vietnamese version

A Vietnamese version of ''
The Next Iron Chef ''The Next Iron Chef'' is a limited-run series on the Food Network that aired its fifth season in 2012. Each season is a stand-alone competition to select a chef to be designated an Iron Chef, who will appear on the Food Network program ''Iron ...
'' premiered on November 18, 2012 on
VTV3 VTV3 is a Vietnamese television channel operated and owned by government-owned Vietnam Television. Launched on 31 March 1996 as the country's first sports and entertainment integrated channel, its programs contained sporting events and entertain ...
which also broadcasts ''
Iron Chef Vietnam ''Iron Chef Vietnam'' ( Vietnamese: ''Siêu Đầu Bếp Việt Nam'') is a Vietnamese cooking show based on the Japanese show ''Iron Chef'', as well as its American adaptation ''Iron Chef America'' and ''The Next Iron Chef''. The program is a sor ...
''. It premiered a week after ''Iron Chef Vietnam'' ended the first series.


Thai version

A Thai version of ''
The Next Iron Chef ''The Next Iron Chef'' is a limited-run series on the Food Network that aired its fifth season in 2012. Each season is a stand-alone competition to select a chef to be designated an Iron Chef, who will appear on the Food Network program ''Iron ...
'' premiered on June 23, 2019 on ''
Channel 7 (Thailand) The Channel 7 or Channel 7 HD, fully known as Bangkok Broadcasting & Television Company Limited Channel 7 ( th, สถานีโทรทัศน์ช่อง 7 เอชดี), is a Thai free-to-air television network that was launched ...
'' During '' The Iron Chef'' Season 8 Archived a
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Next Iron Chef, The Food Network original programming 2007 American television series debuts 2000s American cooking television series 2010s American cooking television series The Next 2012 American television series endings Cooking competitions in the United States