4278 replies to this topic

[blackwing]

As most Iron Chef America afficionados know, there is going to be a new reality series to choose a new Iron Chef who will take his/her place in the pantheon on Iron Chef America. There should be a new thread devoted to this show rather than talking about it in the ICA thread like we had been, since they are two separate shows.

There are 8 contestants. They and their cooking specialties are:

John Besh of New Orleans - French/Cajun
Chris Cosentino of San Francisco - Italian
Jill Davie of Santa Monica, CA - Contemporary
Traci Des Jardins of San Francisco - French/California
Gavin Kaysen of San Diego - French
Morou Ouattara of Washington DC - Fusion (African, Middle Eastern, and French)
Aaron Sanchez of New York - Mexican/Latin
Michael Symon of Cleveland - American/Mediterranean

Looks to me like they are stacking the deck in favor of selecting an IC with a French specialty. Hiroyuki Sakai was always my favorite of the original Iron Chef Japan chefs, so I'd love for ICA to get a French cooking chef.

The show premieres on October 7. Alton Brown and Mark Dascascos appear in their familiar roles. Here is the link to the official website.

[brightman73]

This show has me intrigued. Could this be Food TV's way of getting in another "Next Food TV Star" or whatever they called it? I mean, heck, they only have so many time slots to give away. I will definately check this out. I love competive cooking shows. I hope it's along the lines of "Top Chef"!

[Otakugirl]

From what I've heard, it's a dead lift of "Top Chef." (Which, granted, was a dead lift of "Project Runway," but whatever.)

I wonder how much it bothers the Food Network execs that two of the best food-related shows on TV ("Top Chef" and "No Reservations") ended up on other channels?

[heebiejeebie]

It definitely seems like FN is trying to take a reality competition show approach to shore up their cooking credibility in the face of TOp Chef trouncing them critics wise and their own FN Star show being such a joke on actually being able to cook.

Thing is, I think this already fails somewhat as none of these people are actually FN personalities as they picked from the past to create the IC ranks. Of course no one in their right mind can picture WRetched Ray, Little Big Head, Drunken' Dean or Robin Miller as an IC. Let alone SLop or even Tyler Florence (besides if he gets any Applebies bigger he'd have a heartattack first competition).

I think I actually recognize some of the competitors but that is because I am a bit of a food geek. I do not though recognize most let alone all. So that too means that it kind of fails proactively. The purpose of the Americna version of the show is to have ICs that are as mainstream as possible. Chefs that people who don't necessarily follow the culinary world still recognize somewhat. Even if they don't know his or her name. Bayliss for example. Douchebag Dispirito. Even Dave Lieberman now that he is pimping (Kraft?) product on network television ads had greater mainstream recognition then he might have as a FN personality.

Still it could be fun to watch and I'm betting that FN's halfass approach and weird production values will produce plenty of snark-able material.

[Kat D]

I'm looking forward to this, too. Even though I don't really see how judges like Michael Ruhlman and the others, will say to any of these top-notch chefs their food wasn't good enough to be an IC on the Food Network.

[Haveahabit]

I don't really see how judges like Michael Ruhlman and the others, will say to any of these top-notch chefs their food wasn't good enough to be an IC on the Food Network.

My guess is that the show will be a multi-level elimination with each competition featuring 2 chefs using the same secret ingredient. The judges will then just have to decide which chef did a better job with that ingredient. The judges won't have to make that ultimate descision, the elimations will do it for them.

I'm rooting for Michael Symon!

[Fukui San]

This show better not copy Top Chef. I like Top Chef, but the chefs here are top notch chefs already. They don't need to show that they can make something out of vending machines. They just have to duel one another in the Iron Chef format.

[Rosanella]

Have any of these chefs performed in Kitchen Stadium before?

I'm a little hurt there are no Boston chefs on the list. Ming might have been a decent choice.

[AdrienneP]

The purpose of the Americna version of the show is to have ICs that are as mainstream as possible. Chefs that people who don't necessarily follow the culinary world still recognize somewhat. Even if they don't know his or her name.

ITA. I think the chefs should be somewhat recognizable names, that have a bit of gravitas on their own. Outside of seeing some of these chefs on ICA, I've never heard of most of them (which I know ultimately means nothing), whereas I'd at least heard of Mario and of course Wolfgang Puck, one of the original ICA chefs. And you're right, Rosanella, Ming would be a great IC.

But I'll still watch, I'm excited to see what these chefs will cook.

[Fukui San]

Have any of these chefs performed in Kitchen Stadium before?

Contestants who have been on ICA before:

John Besh of New Orleans - French/Cajun - Beat Batali in Battle Andouille Sausage
Traci Des Jardins of San Francisco - French/California - Beat Batali in Battle Shrimp
Morou Ouattara of Washington DC - Fusion (African, Middle Eastern, and French) - Lost to Flay in Battle Frozen Peas
Aaron Sanchez of New York - Mexican/Latin - Tied Morimoto in Battle Black Bass
Michael Symon of Cleveland - American/Mediterranean - Lost to Morimoto in Battle Asparagus

Impressions upon watching these guys on ICA: Des Jardins has guts. She made a savory Shrimp Creme Brulée that worked in the same episode that Batali made a disastrous Shrimp Parfait. Ouattara is very creative, though he fell short in taste in his battle. Symon ran into Morimoto's greatest ICA performance to date. His end of the battle was pretty good as well. Greek influenced. Too similar to Cora? Sanchez does what he does well. Don't know if he has much range. Don't remember Besh's battle well, at least his end of it. I think he did well, but he certainly had a favorable ingredient.

Personality-wise, Ouattara, Besh, and Symon are pretty outsized personalities. Des Jardins was all business, and Sanchez was sort of a blank though he's conventionally good looking.

[blackwing]

Have any of these chefs performed in Kitchen Stadium before?

All of them except Jill Davie and Gavin Kaysen have been on Iron Chef America.

Here's how each did:

Besh - Batali, Andouille sausage, Won
Cosentino - Batali, garlic, Lost
Des Jardins - Batali, shrimp, Won
Ouattara - Flay, frozen peas, Lost
Sanchez - Morimoto, black bass, Tie
Symon - Morimoto, asparagus, Lost

Wolfgang Puck only appeared once while they were testing out Iron Chef America. They called it "Battle of the Masters" and pitted American chefs against the traditional Iron Chef Japan Iron Chefs. Puck battled Morimoto with eggs and won. Not sure why he didn't want to continue on ICA.

I agree that the Iron Chefs should be somewhat recognizable, but these challengers all seem highly well regarded. Each has their own restaurant and has good pedigrees. I'd much rather see any of these people win than have Rachael Ray be an Iron Chef. I don't know much about her, but Rachael Ray doesn't seem properly trained at all. Of course I could be wrong, but to me she always comes across like she just home-schooled herself in cooking based on what she likes, and her cooking seems to be the kind of thing you make for yourself as comfort food. Not the fancy gourmet stuff of Iron Chef.

[orchidgal]

The battle with John Besh was on last night. Even during the cooking, Besh looked better than Batali. He and his team were less rushed and his dishes looked better also. I would definitely watch Besh any day.

[Kat D]

ITA. Besh was impressive in the andouille sausage battle with Batali. He has a good presence as an IC, too, very calm and pleasant, bantered a bit with Batali. (And not too hard on the eyes, either.) His story--leading a group of Marines in Desert Storm...trying to currently help other N.O restaurants near him bring back their businesses--make him sympathetic and interesting.

I couldn't help wondering if FN is giving us a hint about the replacement (imo, for Morimoto.)

[Bitterswete]

So that too means that it kind of fails proactively. The purpose of the Americna version of the show is to have ICs that are as mainstream as possible. Chefs that people who don't necessarily follow the culinary world still recognize somewhat.

Were the Japanese Iron Chefs well-known before the show? Really, I have no idea.

I know very little about celebrity chefs, but I sorta kinda recognize most of the chefs in the competition on sight...probably from watching the Food Network a little too much.

[Fukui San]

On ICJ Sakai, Chen, Ishinabe, and Michiba were pretty well established before the show. Later additions Morimoto and Kobe were unknown to the Japanese audience. Morimoto was based in New York, of course, and Kobe was working in a well respected place in Italy, but he hadn't yet opened a restaurant of his own.

IMO, it's most important that the chefs acquit themselves well in the kitchen during battles, and not that important that they are "names" in mainstream America. I have confidence in the five who I've already seen on ICA. (I missed Consentino's battle)

[Nutjob]

I'm a bit confused as to why they would just want to ape Top Chef for this. As a fan of IC, I'd find it far more exciting if they'd just do an old fashioned tournament with the contestants, winner take the IC spot.

[heebiejeebie]

I agree that the Iron Chefs should be somewhat recognizable, but these challengers all seem highly well regarded. Each has their own restaurant and has good pedigrees. I'd much rather see any of these people win than have Rachael Ray be an Iron Chef. I don't know much about her, but Rachael Ray doesn't seem properly trained at all. Of course I could be wrong, but to me she always comes across like she just home-schooled herself in cooking based on what she likes, and her cooking seems to be the kind of thing you make for yourself as comfort food. Not the fancy gourmet stuff of Iron Chef.

I definitely think that the challengers are all highly regarded. And for me, that suits just fine. But ten minutes of watching FN, even ICA, and I know damn well that I'm pretty much the last person FN cares about pleasing as looking at its programing and it seems they consider me the unwanted demographic. So I'm surprised they are going this route and not wooing chefs that are considered good but in the mainstream eye like the original four were and even Cora was somewhat.

Besh does seem like a very likely candidate as the camera seems to eat him up. He is incredibly charming and personable. and yes, as mentioned above, easy on the eyes (I don't even pretend I'm dipping my feet in the shallow end, I lounging on the side of the pool waiting for the cabana boy to come spritz me).

Des Jardins and Sanchez would be my other two production hopefuls. Sanchez lacks charm but brings ethnicity and looks to FN's table by a cold-hearted demographic analysis.

It will be interesting to see how much of the show is crafted around bringing the two most viable candidates to the F2 and how much of FN's assurance it has a completely qualified field is let through. Tears recrimination and snark no doubt will abound. Too bad they couldn't find someone less barking and bellowing than Kevin to give the oven side commentary while they are at it. Every time that man comes on I hit mute.

[blackwing]

I think Des Jardins has an advantage in that 1) she's a woman, and 2) she cooks French. I remember from her battle on ICA that she was very cold, precise and exacting. She doesn't seem like a warm personality at all. Wonder how she will come across on this show.

I've never seen Top Chef since I don't have Bravo, so I'm not familiar with how that format works.

They don't seem to have said much about how Next IC is going to work. Is it going to be a series of one on one battles, with the winner moving on to the next round? That seems kind of unfair because what happens if two finalist-worthy chefs get pitted against each other early?

I'd like to see a yoooooge kitchen stadium with 8 workstations, the theme is revealed, and then they all get working. The worst one gets eliminated. It'd probably be hard to follow and a lot would be missed, but they can work out kinks with editing.

In ICA it's pretty well known that the challenger and the Iron Chef are given a list of 3 potential theme ingredients, so they can think about how to plan a menu. For this competition show, I'd prefer if it were completely secret. It would make things a whole lot more interesting to see who can come up with things on the fly.

[Nutjob]

I've never seen Top Chef since I don't have Bravo, so I'm not familiar with how that format works.

The chefs are given a "Quickfire Challenge," which usually bestows immunity or some other advantage to the winner, and is usually a fairly fast challenge. For example, one challenge was to create a dish using only ingredients from a single aisle at the grocery store. Then, the main challenge, or "Elimination Challenge", is where someone gets booted, is more involved, and sometimes requires the cheftestants (tm Keckler) to team up. The worst performing chef gets the boot. These can sometimes be really ridiculous (one challenge had them cooking within the constraints of first class airline food), or fairly straightforward, but with a twist (last season, one EC had them teaming up to cook a 7 course meal with each coarse representing one of the Seven Deadly Sins).

I like your idea about setting the ingredients and booting the worst of the 8 each episode. IC is very structured, so they need to be able to perform.

Edited by Nutjob, Sep 25, 2007 @ 3:11 PM.

[Rosanella]

Thanks so much for all the answers to my lazy ass question. I knew I could depend on you all to be better than G**gle.

I saw the Besh show again Sunday and he not only won, but he kinda kicked Mario's ass. Fairly impressive and he was fun too. That first course he served that had a base of crawfish boil in aspic with the baby greens on top was gorgeous. It looked like a piece of swamp, but in the prettiest possible way, if that makes any sense.

[heebiejeebie]

With only eight, they could do two batches of four each and give them a half hour to make two dishes. Worst gets tossed each week. They could easily edit that in a comprehensive manner in an hour.

But I think I would rather see a comprehensive season. Have a judging system that keeps them all competing each week but by points. Then when you get down to the last couple of shows start sending the lowest rankers home. For this type of field, I'm not sure the first weak dish gets someone tossed.

One thing I really dislike about the whole "worst" aspect is that it tends to winnow better overall candidates who stumble once while mid pack people tend to slip by and make it to the final four (i.e. three of the final four this and last season of Top Chef). SO even if they had two or three shows that no one was tossed and then at the end of the third show they throw away the bottom three. Even more than fashion in Project Runway, to me cooking is a bit more culmative in performance than Top Chef allows. I really would like to see a competitive reality show make a bit more effort at finding the best overall. Not going to happen. Let alone on FN. But is nice to have a dream.

Then ideally, they have the final two each compete against one or more of the current crop of IC. Whoever does best then wins. But they might stick with the vote for your favorite route as they have with their TNFNS.

[screamapiller]

But they might stick with the vote for your favorite route as they have with their TNFNS.

A good portion of the series was filmed where I work and while I have no good dirt to share because we were not allowed to watch any of the competition, I can tell you that the production is wrapped and the winner has already been chosen (and no, I don't know who it is).

Edited by screamapiller, Sep 25, 2007 @ 10:37 PM.

[wyndham]

Is one of the current Iron Chefs leaving or are they just adding another to the pack?

[blackwing]

It's been rumored that one, and perhaps two, of the current Iron Chefs are leaving. Speculation was that Mario Batali has been fired. Food Network cancelled his Molto Mario show. His camp has denied that he has been fired as an Iron Chef.

There was a link to an article in the Iron Chef America thread that also said that another Iron Chef was leaving, although the article did not name names.

[Rosanella]

I would be terribly upset if Mario is canned. His battles are some of the best. I love his not-taking-it-deadly-seriously demeanor. And, to rip off the Lone Gunmen, his kung fu is the best.

[AdrienneP]

Have a judging system that keeps them all competing each week but by points. Then when you get down to the last couple of shows start sending the lowest rankers home. For this type of field, I'm not sure the first weak dish gets someone tossed.

ITA, and this is what bugs me about other competitive shows, like Top Chef or Project Runway, Top Model, etc. They boot someone straight away when they really have no clear idea of what that person can do. Everyone has a fluke bad day. The first 2-3 challenges should be a point system and by the end of the 3rd challenge, eliminate the bottom 3 so that the number of episodes remains on track. But that gives everyone at least 3 chances to prove themselves.

ICA wouldn't be the same without Mario.

[stekpgh]

ICA wouldn't be the same without Mario.

I would, quite frankly, like to see all of them replaced - maybe we can have four winners. I've seen their collective bag of tricks one too many times. Perhaps marginally less so with Mario than the others, but I've seen my fill of various Mediterranean, Southwestern and Japanese takes on unlikely ingredients. It's gotten to the point where I actively root for the challenger every week and I've grown tired of Bobby's re-interpreted breakfasts and warmed over arsenal of pepper sauces, Morimoto's upscale renditions of Japanese street food, and Mario's increasing reliance on Italy meets Asia/Africa twists. And I've never understood Cat being on the show at all except for her prodigious plating ability - other than that she's just Mario lite in her approach to the ingredients (with grape leaves instead of pasta). Let's get a year or two of some new flavor profiles: French, Caribbean, Southeast or South Asian. There's some interesting possibilities with the new group. The show needs some fresh blood, plus the removal of truffles and lobster from the pantry for at least a season (which seem to successfully pull the wool over the judges eyes every time a chef can't think of anything else to do).

Edited by stekpgh, Sep 29, 2007 @ 11:43 AM.

[Kat D]

Alton Interview re: Next Iron Chef

[Fukui San]

Iron Chef America is playing Morimoto vs. Sanchez this week. Looks like they'll be showing all of the potential Iron Chefs' battles to prepare for this show.

[CocoaGoddess]

Food Network cancelled his Molto Mario show. His camp has denied that he has been fired as an Iron Chef.

Think I'm going to believe Mario's camp with this one. Molto Mario hasn't been in production since 2004, and it would seem silly for him to leave the network after all of these years.

I can't wait for TNIC. Hopefully one of the new chefs will replace Cora. Don't care too much for her.