The Next Iron Chef

The Next Iron Chef
Genre

Reality television

Cooking show
Starring Alton Brown
Mark Dacascos
Judges Michael Ruhlman (season 1)
Andrew Knowlton (season 1)
Donatella Arpaia (season 1–3, 5)
Jeffrey Steingarten (season 2)
Anya Fernald (season 2)
Michael Symon (season 3–4)
Simon Majumdar (season 3–5)
Judy Joo (season 4)
Geoffrey Zakarian (season 5)
Composer(s) Craig Marks
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 38
Production
Location(s) New York City
Munich, Germany
Paris, France
Los Angeles
Tokyo
Las Vegas
Running time 60–90 minutes
Release
Original network Food Network
Original release October 7, 2007 (2007-10-07) – December 23, 2012 (2012-12-23)
Chronology
Related shows Iron Chef America
External links
Website

The Next Iron Chef, is a limited-run series on the Food Network, airing 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 Chef America.

In Season 1, eight chefs from around the United States battled to be the next Iron Chef. The show debuted Sunday, October 7, 2007, and the hosts were Alton Brown and "The Chairman", Mark Dacascos. Challenges one through five of the competition were held at the Culinary Institute of America. Challenges six and seven took place in Munich, Germany and Paris, France respectively. The final challenge took place at the Food Network studios in New York City, on the Iron Chef America set. The winner of The Next Iron Chef was Cleveland restaurant chef Michael Symon.

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 and "The Chairman" Mark Dacascos. Following a final battle in Kitchen Stadium, Chicago-born Ecuadorian-American chef Jose Garces, 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.[1]

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[2] that Alton Brown and judge Donatella Arpaia would return for season 3. Completing the judges panel are food writer and broadcaster Simon Majumdar and current Iron Chef Michael Symon. Season 3 began airing on October 3, 2010 on Food Network. The winner of season 3 was Marc Forgione. 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 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.[3]

Judges

Judges Seasons
1 2 3 4 5
Donatella Arpaia ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Michael Ruhlman ♦
Andrew Knowlton ♦
Jeffrey Steingarten ♦
Anya Fernald ♦
Simon Majumdar ♦ ♦ ♦
Michael Symon ♦ ♦
Judy Joo ♦
Geoffrey Zakarian ♦

Season 1: 2007

Contestants

Judges

The contest was judged by food writer Michael Ruhlman, Bon Appétit restaurant editor Andrew Knowlton, and restaurateur Donatella Arpaia.[4]

Contestant progress

Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 Comments
Challenge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Symon IN IN WIN IN WIN WIN IN WIN The Next Iron Chef
Besh IN WIN IN IN IN IN IN OUT Elimin: Attain Greatness
Cosentino IN IN IN WIN IN IN OUT Elimin: Lead and Inspire
Sanchez WIN IN IN IN IN OUT Elimin: Pressure
Ouattara IN IN IN IN OUT Elimin: Resourcefulness
Kaysen IN IN IN IN OUT
Davie IN IN IN OUT Elimin: Simplicity and Innovation
Des Jardins IN OUT Elimin: Speed and Artistry
     (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

  • 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 4-inch (100 mm) strip of daikon thin enough to read newsprint through within 15 minutes.
  • WINNER: Aarón Sanchez
  • 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, beef shoulder, chorizo, duck confit, bacon, salmon roe, 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

Episode 2

  • The chefs have 30 minutes to prepare six one-bite (amuse-bouche) 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
  • After a brief introduction to the special ingredients and appliances (and with some tutelage by chef Wylie Dufresne 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) and innovative appliances (e.g., thermal immersion circulator, 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[5]
  • ELIMINATED: Jill Davie

Episode 3

  • 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

Episode 4

  • 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'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

Episode 5

  • 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 to France, with guests including a number of noted French culinary figures.
  • WINNER: Neither remaining chef was declared the winner.
  • ELIMINATED: Chris Cosentino

Episode 6

  • The final competition tales the form of a head-to-head competition in Kitchen Stadium in a traditional Iron Chef America 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, Cat Cora and Masaharu Morimoto. The three judges and the three Iron Chefs collaborate to determine the winner.
  • WINNER: Michael Symon
  • ELIMINATED: John Besh

Season 2: 2009

Contestants

Judges

The judges are restaurateur Donatella Arpaia, food author and long-time Iron Chef America judge Jeffrey Steingarten and sustainable food expert Anya Fernald.[6]

Contestant progress

Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Comments
Challenge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Garces WIN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN WIN IN WIN IN WIN The Next Iron Chef
Mehta IN IN WIN IN IN IN WIN IN IN WIN IN IN OUT Elim: Imagination
Mullen IN IN IN WIN IN WIN IN IN IN IN IN OUT Elim: Integrity
Freitag IN IN IN IN WIN IN IN IN IN IN OUT Elim: Umami
Appleman IN WIN IN IN WIN IN IN WIN OUT Elim: Pressure
Trevino IN IN IN IN WIN IN IN IN OUT
Crenn IN IN IN IN WIN IN OUT Elim: Adaptability
Farmerie IN IN IN IN IN OUT Elim: Innovation
Smith IN IN IN OUT Elim: Simplicity and Interpretation
Greenspan IN OUT Elim: Memory and Fearlessness
     (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

  • 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
  • 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
  • ELIMINATED: Eric Greenspan

Episode 2

  • 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
  • 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

Episode 3

  • 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 (Chefs Appleman and Mullen)
    • Thai: Green Curry with Fish Balls (Chefs Freitag and Mehta)
    • Chinese: Pork and Vegetarian Dumplings (Chefs Trevino and Farmerie)
  • WINNERS: Chefs Appleman, Crenn, Frietag and Trevino
  • The chefs must use inspiration from their visit to local restaurants to re-interpret a traditional American dish.
  • WINNER: Seamus Mullen
  • ELIMINATED: Brad Farmerie

Episode 4

  • 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 imported from Mexico. Each chef has 90 minutes total to shop at Los Angeles' Grand Central Market 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

Episode 5

  • 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
  • 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.

Episode 6

  • 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 box.
  • Guest Judge: Dr. Yukio Hattori, Director of the Hattori Nutrition College. Dr. Hattori was a commentator on the original Japanese Iron Chef.
  • WINNER: Jose Garces
  • ELIMINATED: Amanda Freitag

Episode 7

  • Personal expression through food.
  • Guest Judges: The Chairman, Dr. Yukio Hattori
  • FINALISTS: Jose Garces, Jehangir Mehta
  • ELIMINATED: Seamus Mullen

Episode 8

  • 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

Season 3: 2010

Contestants

Judges

The judges are restaurateur Donatella Arpaia, food writer and broadcaster Simon Majumdar and current Iron Chef Michael Symon, winner of the Season 1 competition.[6]

Contestant progress

Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Comments
Challenge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Forgione IN IN IN WIN WIN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN WIN The Next Iron Chef
Canora IN IN IN IN IN WIN IN IN WIN IN IN WIN WIN WIN OUT Elim: Honor
Tsai IN WIN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN WIN WIN IN IN OUT Elim: Seduction
Tio IN IN IN IN IN IN WIN WIN IN IN IN IN IN OUT
Caswell IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN OUT Elim: Inspiration
Chauhan IN IN WIN IN IN IN IN IN IN OUT Elim: Respect
Estes WIN IN IN IN IN IN IN OUT Elim: Transformation
Dumont IN IN IN IN IN OUT Elim: Resourcefulness
Pagán IN IN IN OUT Elim: Innovation
Kirschner IN OUT Elim: Ingenuity
     (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

  • WINNER: Duskie Estes

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

Episode 2: Innovation

  • WINNER: Maneet Chauhan
  • DISADVANTAGE: Mary Dumont

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

Episode 3: Resourcefulness

  • WINNER: Marc Forgione
  • DISADVANTAGE: Duskie Estes

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

Episode 4: Transformation

  • WINNER: Celina Tio
  • DISADVANTAGE: Maneet Chauhan

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

Episode 5: Respect

  • WINNER: Marco Canora
  • DISADVANTAGE: Marc Forgione
  • WINNER: Ming Tsai
  • ELIMINATED: Maneet Chauhan

Note: In this episode, Iron Chef Jose Garces served as a guest judge, substituting for fellow Iron Chef Michael Symon.

Episode 6: Inspiration

  • WINNER: Ming Tsai
  • 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.)

Episode 7: Seduction

  • WINNER: Marco Canora
  • WINNER: Marco Canora
  • ELIMINATED: Celina Tio, Ming Tsai

Episode 8: Honor

Secret Ingredient: Thanksgiving Feast (heritage turkey, white pekin duck, venison, lobster)

  • WINNER: Marc Forgione
  • ELIMINATED: Marco Canora

Season 4: 2011: Super Chefs

Contestants

Judges

The judges for season four were current Iron Chef Michael Symon, food writer and broadcaster Simon Majumdar, and Iron Chef Judy Joo from Iron Chef UK.

Contestant progress

Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Comments
Zakarian WIN IN IN CO IN CO WIN WIN The Next Iron Chef
Falkner IN IN WIN IN CO WIN COOUT Elim: Pressure
Chiarello IN CO IN WIN IN IN OUT Elim: Passion
Guarnaschelli IN WIN IN IN IN IN OUT
Burrell IN IN IN IN WIN OUT Elim: Risk
Samuelsson CO IN IN IN OUT Elim: Storytelling
MacMillan WIN IN CO OUT Elim: Improvisation
Hughes IN IN OUT Elim: Ingenuity
Irvine IN OUT Elim: Transformation
Mendelsohn OUT Elim: Resourcefulness
     (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

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
  1. Spike Mendelsohn and Marcus Samuelsson
  2. Anne Burrell and Robert Irvine
  3. Alex Guarnaschelli and Elizabeth Falkner
  4. Geoffrey Zakarian and Beau MacMillan
  5. Michael Chiarello and Chuck Hughes
  • BOTTOM TWO: Spike Mendelsohn and Marcus Samuelsson
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.
  • ELIMINATED: Spike Mendelsohn

Episode 2: Transformation

The chefs are given 15 minutes to gather necessary ingredients from ballpark vendors and 60 minutes to transform two stadium classics at Petco Park. 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
  • CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Michael Chiarello
  • ELIMINATED: Robert Irvine

Episode 3: Ingenuity

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:

  1. Chocolate Covered Raisins: Chef Guarnaschelli
  2. Malt Balls: Chef Falkner
  3. Popcorn: Chef Hughes
  4. Gummy Candy: Chef Chiarello
  5. Cinnamon Candy: Chef Zakarian
  6. Root Beer: Chef Burrell
  7. Chocolate Covered Caramels: Chef Samuelsson
  8. Sweet and Sour Candy: Chef MacMillan
  • WINNER: Elizabeth Falkner
  • BOTTOM TWO: Chuck Hughes and Beau MacMillan
  • CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Beau MacMillan
  • ELIMINATED: Chuck Hughes

Episode 4: Improvisation

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
  • CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Geoffrey Zakarian
  • ELIMINATED: Beau MacMillan

Episode 5: Storytelling

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 and Chef Charlie Palmer) at the Grand Central Terminal. The two least successful chefs are sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown.

Landmark Order:

  1. Statue of Liberty : Chef Chiarello
  2. Times Square: Chef Zakarian
  3. Broadway: Chef Samuelsson
  4. Empire State Building: Chef Guarnaschelli
  5. Central Park : Chef Burrell
  6. Brooklyn Bridge : Chef Falkner
  • WINNER: Anne Burrell
  • BOTTOM TWO: Marcus Samuelsson and Elizabeth Falkner
  • CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Elizabeth Falkner
  • ELIMINATED: Marcus Samuelsson

Episode 6: Risk

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:

  1. Canned Sardines: Chef Burrell (50 minutes)
  2. Wagyu Beef: Chef Zakarian (30 minutes)
  3. Maine Lobster: Chef Chiarello (25 minutes)
  4. Tuna Jerky: Chef Falkner (25 minutes)
  5. Leg of Lamb: Chef Guarnaschelli (20 minutes)
  • WINNER: Elizabeth Falkner
  • BOTTOM TWO: Anne Burrell and Geoffrey Zakarian
  • CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Geoffrey Zakarian
  • ELIMINATED: Anne Burrell

Episode 7: Passion

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 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
  • CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Elizabeth Falkner
  • ELIMINATED: Michael Chiarello

Episode 8: Pressure

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 and Masaharu Morimoto 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

Season 5: 2012: Redemption

Contestants

Judges

The judges for this season are: Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, restaurateur Donatella Arpaia, and food writer Simon Majumdar.

Contestant progress

Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Comments
Challenge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Guarnaschelli WIN IN IN IN IN IN CO IN WIN The Next Iron Chef
Freitag IN CO WIN IN IN WIN WIN IN OUT Elim: Respect
Appleman IN IN IN IN CO COWIN OUT Elim: Passion
Vigneron IN IN CO CO WIN IN OUT Elim: Transcendence
Mehta IN WIN CO IN IN OUT Elim: Fusion
Falkner IN COCOWIN OUT Elim: Risk
Mendelsohn CO IN IN OUT Elim: Transformation
Greenspan IN IN OUT Elim: Simplicity
Estes IN OUT Elim: Innovation
Love OUT Elim: Resourcefulness
     (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

Chefs are brought to a beach and given an ingredient that they struggled with in a previous competition.
Ingredients
  1. Alex Guarnaschelli: Lobster
  2. Amanda Freitag: Shiitake Mushrooms
  3. Duskie Estes: Calamari
  4. Elizabeth Falkner: Black Garlic
  5. Eric Greenspan: Grasshoppers
  6. Jehangir Mehta: Buffalo
  7. Marcel Vigneron: Avocado
  8. Nate Appleman: Banana
  9. Spike Mendelsohn: Scallops
  10. Tim Love: Kale
  • WINNER: Alex Guarnaschelli
  • BOTTOM TWO: Spike Mendelsohn and Tim Love
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

Episode 2: 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
  1. Tacos: Alex Guarnaschelli, Spike Mendelsohn, Duskie Estes
  2. Banh Mi: Eric Greenspan, Nate Appleman, Elizabeth Falkner
  3. 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
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

Episode 3: Simplicity

Each chef is photographed by food/chef photographer Todd Selby. 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
  1. Alex Guarnaschelli and Marcel Vigneron
  2. Elizabeth Falkner and Amanda Freitag
  3. Nate Appleman and Eric Greenspan
  4. 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
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

Episode 4: 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
  1. Vigneron: Canned Clams
  2. Mehta: Mystery Can (Chicken)
  3. Mendelsohn: Canned Vienna Sausage
  4. Guarnaschelli: Canned Spiced Ham
  5. Falkner: Mystery Can (Roast Beef)
  6. Appleman: Mystery Can (Tuna)
  7. Freitag: Canned Corned Beef
  • WINNER: Elizabeth Falkner
  • BOTTOM TWO: Marcel Vigneron and Spike Mendelsohn
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

Episode 5: 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. 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
  1. Cow Heads: Marcel Vigneron (50 minutes)
  2. Paiche: Elizabeth Falkner (50 minutes)
  3. Bison Ribs: Alex Guarnaschelli (45 minutes)
  4. Wheel of Parmesan: Amanda Freitag (40 minutes)
  5. Ostrich Eggs: Jehangir Mehta (25 minutes)
  6. Mortadella: Nate Appleman (20 minutes)
  • WINNER: Marcel Vigneron
  • BOTTOM TWO: Nate Appleman and Elizabeth Falkner
The chefs have thirty minutes to make a dish highlighting anchovies as the main ingredient.
  • CONTINUING IN THE COMPETITION: Nate Appleman
  • ELIMINATED: Elizabeth Falkner

Episode 6: 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.
  1. Blue Cheese and Peanut Butter: Marcel Vigneron
  2. Bone Marrow and Rainbow Candies: Jehangir Mehta
  3. Clams and Strawberries: Nate Appleman
  4. Chicken Liver and Peppermint Candies: Alex Guarnaschelli
  5. Calamari and Miniature Marshmallows: Amanda Freitag
  • WINNER: Amanda Freitag
  • BOTTOM TWO: Nate Appleman and Jehangir Mehta
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

Episode 7: Transcendence

The chefs are tasked to prepare a buffet featuring a mystery ingredient chosen by magician David Copperfield: bacon. Chef Freitag, as the winner of the previous challenge, splits the chefs into pairs.
  1. Amanda Freitag and Nate Appleman
  2. Alex Guarnaschelli and Marcel Vigneron
  • WINNERS: Amanda Freitag and Nate Appleman
  • BOTTOM TWO: Alex Guarnaschelli and Marcel Vigneron
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

Episode 8: 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
  1. Farm-raised Chicken (Geoffrey Zakarian): Amanda Freitag
  2. Haddock (Simon Majumdar): Nate Appleman
  3. 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
  1. Bobby Flay: Corn, Avocado, Limes, Chili Peppers
  2. Masaharu Morimoto: Panko, Ponzu, Soy Sauce, Miso, Daikon Radish, Wasabi
  3. Michael Symon: Eggplant, Feta Cheese, Olives, Phyllo Dough
  • WINNER: Alex Guarnaschelli
  • ELIMINATED: Amanda Freitag

Vietnamese version

A Vietnamese version of The Next Iron Chef premiered on November 18, 2012 on VTV3 which also broadcasts Iron Chef Vietnam. It premiered a week after Iron Chef Vietnam ended the first series.

References

  1. ↑ "The Next Iron Chef". Food Network. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  2. ↑ "Battle Lines Are Drawn To Join 'Iron Chef' Ranks". Multivu.prnewswire.com. 2010-08-25. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  3. ↑ "Upfronts 2012: Food Network, Cooking Channel to Launch 22New Series - 2012-03-29 15:30:30 | Broadcasting & Cable". Broadcastingcable.com. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  4. ↑ "The Next Iron Chef". The Food Network. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
  5. ↑ "September 26, 2006 | The Chatterbox". Tablehopper. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  6. 1 2 "The Next Iron Chef". The Food Network. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
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