The Next Iron Chef

The Next Iron Chef
Who will climb the ranks to culinary greatness?
Format	Reality, Cooking
Starring	Alton Brown Mark Dacascos
Judges	Michael Ruhlman (Season 1) Andrew Knowlton (Season 1) Donatella Arpaia (Seasons 1-3) Jeffrey Steingarten (Season 2) Anya Fernald (Season 2) Michael Symon (Season 3-4) Simon Majumdar (Season 3-4) Judy Joo (Season 4)
Composer(s)	Craig Marks
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	18
Production
Location(s)	New York City Munich, Germany Paris, France Los Angeles Tokyo
Running time	60 - 90 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Food Network
Original airing	October 7, 2007 (Season 1) October 4, 2009 (Season 2) October 3, 2010 (season 3) October 30, 2011 (season 4)
Chronology
Related shows	Iron Chef America
External links
Website

The Next Iron Chef, is a limited-run series on the Food Network now in its fourth season. 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", actor 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 30th, 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.

Starting with Season 4, the eliminated chefs will be interviewed during the week following the episode airdate on ABC's The Chew. The first castoff was interviewed on November 1, 2011.

Season 1: 2007

Contestants

• John Besh (New Orleans, LA); defeated Mario Batali in Battle Andouille in Season 3 of Iron Chef America.
• Chris Cosentino (San Francisco, CA); lost to Batali in Battle Garlic, in Season 4.
• Jill Davie (Santa Monica, CA) Chef de Cuisine at Josie in Santa Monica, California, and co-host of Fine Living's Shopping with Chefs.
• Traci Des Jardins (San Francisco, CA); defeated Batali in Battle Shrimp in Season 2.
• Gavin Kaysen (San Diego, CA) Chef de Cuisine at El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in California.
• Morou Ouattara (Washington, D.C.) who lost to Bobby Flay in Battle Peas in Season 3.
• Aarón Sanchez (New York, NY) who tied Masaharu Morimoto in Battle Black Bass in Season 2.
• Michael Symon (Cleveland, OH) who lost to Masaharu Morimoto in Battle Asparagus in Season 2.

Judges

The contest was judged by food writer Michael Ruhlman, Bon Appétit restaurant editor Andrew Knowlton, and restaurateur Donatella Arpaia.^[3]

Contestant progress

Episode	1	2	3	4	5	6	Comments
Challenge	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Michael	IN	IN	WIN	IN	WIN	WIN	IN	WIN	The Next Iron Chef
John	IN	WIN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT	Elimin: Attain Greatness
Chris	IN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	OUT		Elimin: Lead and Inspire
Aarón	WIN	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT			Elimin: Pressure
Morou	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT				Elimin: Resourcefulness
Gavin	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT
Jill	IN	IN	IN	OUT					Elimin: Simplicity and Innovation
Traci	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

• Challenge 1: Speed

• A speed challenge in which chefs had 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

• Challenge 2: Artistry

• A challenge which consisted of making 2 desserts: one with any available ingredient and the second featuring savory ingredients. Each chef selected 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 Round One. To make the challenge more difficult, the chefs were not allowed to use butter, sugar, or cheese unless they made it themselves.
• WINNER: John Besh
• ELIMINATED: Traci Des Jardins

• First aired: October 7, 2007

Episode 2

• Challenge 3: Simplicity

• The chefs had 30 minutes to prepare six one-bite (amuse-bouche) dishes that would best exemplify their style of cooking. Due to his win in Challenge 2 of Round 1, Chef Besh was able to select his ingredients first, and also selected the order in which the chefs would present their dishes. This challenge was judged by the chefs themselves. Due to his misunderstanding the rules, Chef Sanchez failed 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 in a special guest appearance), the chefs had 90 minutes to "play" with these items in order to incorporate them into their cooking style. The chefs then had 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 was able to select his ingredients first and had a dedicated set of cooking equipment (the other contestants had to share a common set).
• WINNER: Chris Cosentino^[4]
• ELIMINATED: Jill Davie

• First aired: October 14, 2007

Episode 3

• Challenge 5: Resourcefulness (Double Elimination)

• The chefs were divided into pairs. Each chef selected ingredients for his partner and placed them in a sealed cooler. The chefs were taken outdoors, where each chef had 60 minutes to prepare two dishes with the items located in their cooler and the limited ingredients at their individual station. In addition, the chefs were only able to use a single charcoal grill to cook their dishes. With his win in the previous challenge, Chris Cosentino was given the privilege of deciding who would be paired with whom.
• 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 overseas to Germany for this week's challenge. At 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 will have 90 minutes to prepare a minimum of 3 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 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 took the form of a head-to-head battle in Kitchen Stadium in a traditional Iron Chef America battle. The secret ingredient was swordfish. As a surprise switch, judges Ruhlman, Knowlton and Arpaia were replaced in the on-air tasting portion of the judging by current Iron Chefs Bobby Flay, Cat Cora and Masaharu Morimoto. However, the three judges and the three Iron Chefs collaborated 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 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 (Executive Chef, The Harrison, New York City); lost to Bobby Flay in Battle Alaskan King Crab in Season 7
• Jose Garces (Executive Chef and owner, Amada, Tinto, Distrito, Chifa, Village Whiskey, Philadelphia); defeated Bobby Flay in Battle Melon in Season 6
• Eric Greenspan (Executive Chef and owner, The Foundry on Melrose, Los Angeles)
• Jehangir Mehta (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, food author and long-time Iron Chef America judge Jeffrey Steingarten and sustainable food expert Anya Fernald.^[5]

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
Jose	WIN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	WIN	IN	WIN	The Next Iron Chef
Jehangir	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	OUT	Elim: Imagination
Seamus	IN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT		Elim: Integrity
Amanda	IN	IN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT			Elim: Umami
Nate	IN	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	OUT					Elim: Pressure
Roberto	IN	IN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	IN	OUT
Dominique	IN	IN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	OUT							Elim: Adaptability
Brad	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT								Elim: Innovation
Holly	IN	IN	IN	OUT										Elim: Simplicity and Interpretation
Eric	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

• 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
• ELIMINATED: Eric Greenspan

• 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 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

• 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 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

• 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, each with umami.
• Guest Judge: Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto
• 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 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

• 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 (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 (chef at Vermillion in Chicago, Illinois and New York), lost to Masaharu Morimoto in Battle Leeks in Season 8
• Mary Dumont (Executive Chef at Harvest in Cambridge, Massachusetts), lost to Cat Cora in Battle Milk and Cream in Season 5
• Duskie Estes (chef and owner of Zazu Restaurant and Farm, Bovolo and Black Pig Meat Company in Sonoma County, California)
• Marc Forgione (chef and owner of Marc Forgione in New York), sous chef for Laurent Tourondel, 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 (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, 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
Marc	IN	IN	IN	WIN	WIN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	WIN	The Next Iron Chef
Marco	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	WIN	WIN	OUT	Elim: Honor
Ming	IN	WIN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	WIN	WIN	IN	IN	OUT		Elim: Seduction
Celina	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	WIN	WIN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT
Bryan	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT				Elim: Inspiration
Maneet	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT						Elim: Respect
Duskie	WIN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT								Elim: Transformation
Mary	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	OUT										Elim: Resourcefulness
Mario	IN	IN	IN	OUT												Elim: Innovation
Andrew	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

• 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 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 and Worst Cooks in America, 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 (Owner of Bottega Restaurant, Napa Valley; host of Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello)
• Elizabeth Falkner (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (Chef and Owner, Good Stuff Eatery, Washington D.C.; Host, Kelsey & Spike Cook [Food2.com]; contestant on Top Chef (season 4)); lost to Michael Symon in Battle Prosciutto in Season 8
• Marcus Samuelsson (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 (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 are current Iron Chef Michael Symon, food writer and broadcaster Simon Majumdar, and Iron Chef Judy Joo from Iron Chef UK.^[7]

Contestant progress

Episode	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Comments
Anne	IN	IN	IN
Michael	IN	CO	IN
Elizabeth	IN	IN	WIN
Alex	IN	WIN	IN
Beau	WIN	IN	CO
Marcus	CO	IN	IN
Geoffrey	WIN	IN	IN
Chuck	IN	IN	OUT						Elim: Ingenuity
Robert	IN	OUT							Elim: Transformation
Spike	OUT								Elim: Resourcefulness

     (WIN) The chef won the series.

     (WIN) The chef won the 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: "Heat and Meat" (Secret Ingredient: Pork) Chefs were paired off in teams of two, with Chef Spike choosing the teams. The teams were then put in the wilderness, asked to create fire from scratch, and make two dishes that demonstrated resourcefulness. The least successful team was 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 MacMillian
5. Michael Chiarello and Chuck Hughes

• WINNERS: Geoffrey Zakarian and Beau MacMillian

• BOTTOM TWO: Spike Mendelsohn and Marcus Samuelsson

• Secret Ingredient Showdown: (With the choice of two mystery ingredients: Canned Tuna and Scallops) Chefs Spike and Marcus chose the red cover, which was Scallops. They were given 30 minutes to produce one dish that was Iron Chef quality.

• WINNER: Marcus Samuelsson

• ELIMINATED: Spike Mendelsohn

• First aired: October 30, 2011

Episode 2: Transformation

• Chairman's Challenge: "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" (Secret Ingredient: Ballpark Food) The chefs were sent out to Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. They were asked to produce Iron Chef ballpark fare. The chefs were given 15 minutes to gather what ingredients they needed and 60 minutes to transform two stadium classics. Chefs Zakarian and MacMillian got an extra 5 minutes for gathering ingredients by winning the first Chairman's Challenge. The two least successful chefs were sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown.

• WINNER: Alex Guarnaschelli

• BOTTOM TWO: Robert Irvine and Michael Chiarello

• Secret Ingredient Showdown: Peanuts

• WINNER: Michael Chiarello

• ELIMINATED: Robert Irvine

• First Aired: November 6, 2011

Episode 3: Ingenuity

• Chairman's Challenge: "Let's All Go to the Lobby" (Secret Ingredient: Movie Theater Snacks) The chefs are taken to the L.A.'s Orpheum Theater and asked to create two gourmet dishes (one sweet, one savory) demonstrating ingenuity in 60 minutes. For her winning the second Chairman's Challenge, Chef Guarnaschelli selected her candy and chose the other chefs' candy. The two least successful chefs were sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown.

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 MacMillian

• WINNER: Elizabeth Falkner

• BOTTOM TWO: Chuck Hughes and Beau MacMillian

• Secret Ingredient Showdown: Tofu

• WINNER: Beau MacMillian

• ELIMINATED: Chuck Hughes

• First Aired: November 13, 2011

Episode 4: Improvisation

• Chairman's Challenge: "Food is Funny" (Secret Ingredient: Various, Octopus to Marshmallows) The chefs are brought to a comedy club, where comedian Kevin Nealon tests their ability to improvise by selecting a disparate list of ingredients they'll have to cook with, ranging from octopus to marshmallows. The two least successful chefs were sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown.

• WINNER:

• BOTTOM TWO:

• Secret Ingredient Showdown:

• WINNER:

• ELIMINATED:

• First Aired: November 20, 2011

Episode 5:

• Chairman's Challenge: "New York on a Plate" (Secret Ingredient: ) The six remaining hopefuls arrive at Grand Central Station, where they are tasked with creating culinary stories based on iconic New York City sites. The two least successful chefs were sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown.

• WINNER:

• BOTTOM TWO:

• Secret Ingredient Showdown:

• WINNER:

• ELIMINATED:

• First Aired: November 27, 2011

Episode 6:

• Chairman's Challenge: "Food Auction" (Secret Ingredient: ) The five remaining chefs are brought to an auction house, where they must bid on ingredients. Then, each chef tries to create the most interesting dish in the least amount of time. The two least successful chefs were sent to the Secret Ingredient Showdown.

• WINNER:

• BOTTOM TWO:

• Secret Ingredient Showdown:

• WINNER:

• ELIMINATED:

• First Aired: December 4, 2011

References

1. ^ http://www.foodnetwork.com/the-next-iron-chef/index.html
2. ^ http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/foodnetwork/45779/
3. ^ "The Next Iron Chef". The Food Network. http://www.foodnetwork.com/the-next-iron-chef/index.html. Retrieved 2007-09-17. 
4. ^ http://www.tablehopper.com/2006/09/chatterbox-september-26-2006.html
5. ^ "The Next Iron Chef". The Food Network. http://www.foodnetwork.com/the-next-iron-chef/index.html. Retrieved 2009-04-10. 
6. ^ "The Next Iron Chef". The Food Network. http://www.foodnetwork.com/the-next-iron-chef/index.html. Retrieved 2009-04-10. 
7. ^ http://eater.com/archives/2011/04/19/the-next-iron-chef-lineup-includes-anne-burrell-spike-mendelsohn-and-marcus-samuelsson.php