Thanks for visiting!

GSNN Primes
The Next Iron Chef
Season 2
Food Network
9p ET Sundays

SS Monday SS Tuesday SS Wednesday SS Thursday SS Friday SS Weekend SS Archives Primes Lineup About Us
InSites On the Buzzer Numbers Game State of Play WLTI Block Party Video Wall Replay News Archive Contact
Previous Episodes
October 4
October 11
October 18
October 25
November 1
November 8
 

Ten chefs will rise through the ranks, but only one will achieve greatness. Who will be the next Iron Chef?

Recaps by Chico Alexander, GSNN

 
Hosts Mark Dacascos ("The Chairman") & Alton Brown
Judges Donatella Arpaia
Anya Fernald
Jeffrey Steingarten
Creator Keiichi Tanaka (based upon "Ryori no Tetsujin/Iron Chef")
EP Eytan Keller
Stephen Kroopnick
Stu Schreiberg
Packager Triage Entertainment & Fuji TV for Food Network
Origins American Culinary Institute, Los Angeles
Web foodnetwork.com/nextironchef
Airs 9p Sun, Food
Available In High-Definition Where AvailableStreaming Online

Copyright Statement
ALL ORIGINAL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1999-2009 GAMESHOWNEWSNET.COM. All rights reserved.

No infringement of copyright is intended by these fan pages; production companies of shows this site covers retain all rights to the sounds, images, and information contained herein. Copyrighted material appearing on this site constitutes fair use, and no challenge to copyright is implied. 

Web design by Jason Elliott. Logo by Chico Alexander. 

Powered by 1&1 Internet

Integrity
November 15

Last time, the Iron Chef hopefuls traveled to Japan, where their sense of umami was put to the test. Unfortunately, Chef Amanda Freitag's taste buds weren't quite up to snuff, so she was put on the next flight back to the States, leaving three chefs to battle it out tonight for two spots in the grand finale next week.

TEST #12: INTEGRITY

"No matter what dish is prepared, an Iron Chef always respects the integrity of the ingredients. Food tells a story, and your food should tell your story. Good luck, chefs."

Across the Sumida River is one of Japan's greatest fish markets, Tsukiji. The semifinalists will head there to get ingredients to create a kaiseki, a multi-course meal where taste presentation, and creativity come together to tell your story. You'll have 60 minutes to get all your ingredients to create five courses.

If you waste five minutes... if you waste ONE minute... you're going to have a hard time getting back up to speed. All three chefs don't waste a second in getting their ingredients before heading back to Hattori Nutrition College. Mehta definitely goes overboard. The other chefs call it "ridiculous."

Now to cook. You'll have two hours to make it do what it do... starting NOW!

Mullen has one leg to stand on, as a) his arthritis starts acting up, and b) both of his competitors have taken all of the good stuff.

Mehta's story is one of a happy person, so all of his dishes will feature fish and flowers. He's got a clam salad and a chili shrimp, as well as an ice cream... Historically, it's been a mistake for him. But we'll see how this works.

Mullen wants to do six courses, including dessert. He has a lot of work to do. He has a salmon, a yuba sea urchin, prawn tartare, and a salmon mousse with ikura.

Garces is basing his story on a theatre play with five acts. The acts have a king crap gazpacho, a grilled kampachi, and a seafood hot pot.

Midway through the test, Mullen's pain becomes an issue. Is he truly ready to call it quits? Not bloody likely. He's summoning what strength he has left.

Thirty minutes left, and Garces is making an urchin custard. Risky, since Mullen is also making a roe ice cream. Mullen has to clean the machine before he can use it.

Six minutes, and no one has plated yet. All of the chefs are running out of time. If it's not on a plate by now, you are in serious trouble.

"Five seconds... three... two... one..." The test is over. Now to judge. Sitting with the panel this time are the Chairman, Alton, and the original culinary commentator from "Iron Chef" Dr. Yukio Hattori.

MULLEN: "I tried to give you a little journey through my own culinary story."

- Kelp Cured Wild Salmon Belly, Prawn Tartare, Yuba Sea Urchin with Strawberries
- Salmon Mousse with Ikura in a Dashi Broth
- Prawn a la Plancha with Potato Confit
- Tomato & Oyster Water Chilled Soup
- Ginger Rice and Blonde Miso Soup
- Strawberry Ice Cream with Grey Mullet Roe

MEHTA: "I think of kaiseki as being personal. Flowers is something that makes people happy, and I'm a happy person."

- Clam Salad with Chili Flower
- Lobster with Zucchini Blossoms
- Green Chili Shrimp with Chrysanthemum
- Scallop with Ginger and Chrysanthemum
- Mango Crab Tartare with Cactus Flower Sherbet

 GARCES: "I'm basing it on a theatrical performance with five acts. The story is really a journey through the start of my culinary career."

- Discovery: Gazpacho with King Crab & Avocado
- Roots: Peruvian-style Tiradito with Toro and Scallops with Leche de Tigre
- Labor: Grilled Kampachi with Asparagus, Bamboo, and Amaebi
- Breakthrough: Hot Pot with Lobster, Abalone & Mushrooms
- Destiny: Sea Urchin Custard with Fresh Mango & Strawberries

Now six people have to come to one decision... Which person will NOT compete in Kitchen Stadium next week? Mullen was simple and elegant, but he hit a bit of a rough patch with his rice dish, and his salmon mousse ball was hard. Mehta was excessive, but different. He takes more risks than anyone. Garces was surprisingly clumsy, but the judges connected most with his story.

Back at the teahouse of destiny, it's time to make a final decision. Both Mullen and Garces want to send Mehta home. Mehta's just concentrated on his victory. Chef Mullen's ice cream was delicious, but his salmon was overdone. He simply took on too much. Mehta's presentation is both his high point and his low point. Garces' kampachi had a lot of flavor, but not a lot of doneness.

One of them will be an Iron Chef. It will not be... Seamus Mullen. The biggest mistake: undercooked rice.

So the battle has now been joined. In one week's time, America will have a new Iron Chef. It will be either Philadelphia-based Jose Garces or New York-based Jehangir Mehta. The only thing separating them and what they want... is each other. This can only be settled one way.

Next week... we're back in New York for the final test of greatness, and one of these chefs will be crowned... the Next Iron Chef.

To view this episode in its entirety, go to www.foodnetwork.com/nextironchef.