Goldberg74

Two years ago the Food Network set out to find a culinary master to add to their stable of Iron Chefs. Michael Symon beat out 7 other contests to win the title, and he has since confounded contestants that dare challenge him (his record is 7-2-1). Now, once again, it's time to find The Next Iron Chef!

Rival Chefs

Goldberg74

Memory / Fearlessness (9/8c) - 90 minutes
Original Airdate: 10/04/09

The chefs arrive in Los Angeles to compete in globally inspired cooking challenges that test their culinary abilities; their first two tests are memory and fearlessness.

Challenge: "Memory" - Prepare a signature dish from your earliest childhood memory of food (30 mins).
Winner:

Challenge: "Fearlessness" - Prepare two fearless dishes from a judge-chosen ingredient (60 mins).
Winner:
Bottom Three:
Eliminated:

Deftones

Looking forward to this. Part of me can't help but think this is rigged for Amanda Freitag to win it all, since she's on quite a few Food Network shows.

William Fuld

Jose Garces is going to walk away with this.

Goldberg74

I updated the Episode 1 post with the winners and losers.

Some of those ingredients were down right disgusting... but it looks like they made do with them.

Appleman is rubbing me the wrong way (and a lot of other people too).

BDB

I've never watched an episode of this, but have come to it from Watching Top Chef, and also with Nate Appleman being in it.

I've been to SPQR in sf which was one of his restaurants, he's off to NYC now, which is why his caption seems to change throughout the show. And he's wearing an A16 apron. Which was his other restaurant.

Mullin, Trevino and Appleman all wore Panerai watches which is interesting, tons of chefs seem to have them..

It's an interesting format, I didn't care for Alton's commentary, but I guess that's how Iron Chef works..

I'll certainly tune in to the rest of the shows.

Deftones

Where have I seen Appleman before? Did he go up against someone on Iron Chef in the past? Seems a little too full of himself. Edit: Just looked it up. He went up against Michael Symon. That's what I thought.

Love the judges fighting with each other. Hopefully that continues throughout the season.

Original Desmond

I watched the last next iron chef and was a very high standard. Similar to Top chef masters

boredsilly

I never saw this show before. I'm mainly a Top Chef guy, but I think I prefer Iron Chef's format to that of Top Chef. Shit was crazy. I'm hooked.

I wouldn't have eaten a thing they cooked in last nights episode though.

Sweet Baby James

Eel is good. That might have been the only thing that I would have eaten.

Goldberg74

Episode #2 (10/10/09) - Interpretation

Host Alton Brown gives the nine remaining chefs their next two challenges: Simplicity and Interpretation. In the first challenge, the chefs are asked to use a variety of one-pot cooking devices from around the world to make a family-style dish. The chefs judge one another and reveal who cooked both the most successful and the least successful creations using the ethnic cooking vessels. Next, the chefs are asked to reinvent classic "international" dishes to see who can create an Iron Chef-worthy interpretation of some of the best-known dishes in the world. The next chef is eliminated.


Rival Chefs (as of Week 2)

Goldberg74

Challenge: "Simplicity" - The chefs are asked to use a variety of one-pot cooking devices from around the world to make a family-style dish.
Winner:

Challenge: "Interpretation" - The chefs are asked to reinvent classic "international" dishes to see who can create an Iron Chef-worthy interpretation of some of the best-known dishes in the world.
Winner:

Eliminated:

MrX

All of them except last weeks bottom 3 and Mullen have been challengers.

Garces, who beat Flay, and Farmerie, who beat Cat Cora, were the only winners.

Wazootyman

I just got caught up with the first episode (probably watch #2 tomorrow) but it seems like this is a much weaker crop of chefs than on the first season. Granted, I might just really like Besh, but it seemed like everyone pretty much messed up the offal items.

Fist of Doom

Glad to see Mehta's strategy of hoarding all the grape leaves came back to bite him on the ass . What a jerk.

None of the final dishes looked very appetizing to me.

Deftones

Seems like this is gonna be Freitag or Garces' to lose.

devilshalo

What's weird is that I think he came to the conclusion that he actually had to use the grape leaves to justify taking all of them...

and that was the best he could come up with.

Goldberg74

Episode #3 (10/18/09) - Innovation

Host Alton Brown explains that Innovation is one of the most important traits of an Iron Chef and both challenges in this episode must embody that trait. First, the chefs disperse to four of the best Asian eateries in Los Angeles where they quickly taste and then attempt to recreate the house specialty from each restaurant. The chefs are armed only with their discerning palates to figure out how the dish is made. Next, the chefs are tasked with innovating and creating a new dish that is a hybrid of Asian flavors and American culinary sensibilities. The next chef is eliminated.


Rival Chefs (as of Week 3)

Goldberg74

Mini-challenge - 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 Bibimbap (Stone Pot Mixed Rice) (Chefs Appleman and Mullen)
• Thai: Green Curry with Fish Balls (Chefs Freitag and Mehta)
• Chinese: Pork and Vegetarian Dumplings (Chefs Trevino and Farmerie)

Winner(s):

Challenge: "Innovation" - The chefs are tasked with innovating and creating a new dish that is a hybrid of Asian flavors and American culinary sensibilities.
Winner:

Bottom Three:

Eliminated:

BDB

How did you know the results of this before the episode aired?

I liked the challenges this week, trying to make the dishes in under 10 mins was cool.

Goldberg74

I made the post early and then went back in and filled in the blanks.... just to keep the two posts together. I wish I had a crystal ball for this show. I want to know when they kick Chef Appleman to the curb.

Chef Appleman : The Next Iron Chef :: Evil Russell : Survivor Samoa

I did too... but Appleman pissed me off by following the other chef around and just using what he was using... but doing it better?

boredsilly

These judges are maddening. Much like the Food Network Challenge judges, only more pretentious, they always say they wanted something the chef's didn't deliver.

I enjoy this show immensely, but the food they make looks disgusting to me half the time. Granted, I'm pretty unsophisticated when it comes to food, but half the shit they make looks like Fear Factor food to me.

BDB

There is only one judge I dislike, that's the guy. he's terrible

devilshalo

I hate that they have already pre-judged dishes to their expectations instead of judging it on the taste, presentation, etc. of what's in front of them.

Fist of Doom

I don't know how Mehta managed to survive, throwing that nasty slop into a bunch of plastic takeout containers. Sure doesn't scream Iron Chef to me. The dishes this season have been pretty underwhelming so far, though Mullen's Rueben sandwich looked delicious this week. I'd like to see a true Iron Chef challenge, where they give one ingredient for each chef to make a dish around.

Jeffrey Steingarten. He's always a tough judge on ICA, but he seems to be taking that part too seriously here, just being overly critical.