Iron Chef Gauntlet: Into The Woods Sends One Chef Home

Iron Chef, the pinnacle of culinary competitions, returned. The first episode, Iron “Into The Woods,” sent home one chef seeking culinary supremacy.

For foodies and reality television fans, Iron Chef was a favorite cooking show. From the classic Japanese version to the Food Network show, the 60 minute cooking competition made chefs rock stars. Bobby Flay, Michael Symon and many more became household names. From the comfort of your couch, you could see how award winning, highly touted chefs created delicious bites from a secret ingredient in just 60 minutes. In the new version’s first episode, “Into the Woods,” one chef loses his opportunity to reign supreme.

This new version of Iron Chef challenges seven chefs to serve amazing dishes for culinary supremacy. For five weeks, the chefs will battle until one chef remains to battle in the gauntlet. If the challenger chef defeats all challengers and three Iron Chefs, that chef will earn the title Iron Chef.

For Iron Chef Gauntlet, the show has a few changes. First, Alton Brown is the chairman. This change allows Brown to choose the secret ingredient. With his culinary background and Food Network history, the secret ingredients might be more challenging.

Second, Iron Chef Gauntlet will have two challenges per show. First, a theme challenge and second a secret ingredient elimination battle will leave one chef with shattered dreams. Who will gain culinary greatness? It remains to be seen.

 First challenge theme: Game meat and woodsy vegetables.

The seven chefs had to create a wild thing inspired dish. Choices like venison, elk, squab and duck filled the plates. Some chefs created inspired, balanced dishes, while two chefs were less successful.

Each of the dishes in the first round are judged by Alton Brown. With only one person judging the dishes, the outcome is highly subjective. While Brown is the new chairman for this version of Iron Chef, I wish that a panel weighed in on the first round.

Stephanie Izard, Iron Chef Gauntlet, photo from Food Network

The winning dish was prepared by Chef Stephanie Izard. She made a duck tartare. The dish was layered in flavors. Even though the dish had a flaw (currants could have been included in the tartare versus just on the plate), she was successful. Including an Asian mayonnaise pushed her dish into the top position.

Unfortunately, the other two women chefs were not as successful. Chef Neyshia Arrington’s dish landed her in the bottom two. Chef Sarah Grueneberg’s rabbit was problematic. Fearing her dish would be undercooked, she had to dissemble the roulade and change the dish last minute. Grueneberg was put up for elimination.

As the winning chef, Izard chose the chef to battle Grueneberg for elimination. Since Arrington was also in the bottom dishes, Izard thought it was fair to have them battle. Both chefs had to tackle a secret ingredient challenge.

The secret ingredient challenge was lobster.

In the elimination secret ingredient challenge, both chefs had 60 minutes to create three dishes featuring lobster. Both spiny lobster and Maine lobster were used in dishes. The two chefs had completely different styles in this secret ingredient challenge.

Iron Chef Gauntlet Into The Woods, photo from Food Network

The final challenge was judged by Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and Chef Donetella Arpaia. The two chefs were highly critical of the dishes. Having elevated palates and a keen sense of what it takes to be an Iron Chef, no mediocre dish was going to pass their test.

Chef Arrington presented a trip around the world in her dishes. The Caribbean inspired spiny lobster dish served in a coconut was inspiring. The three dishes were diverse yet each did a good job at featuring the lobster. The judge’s criticism focused on a lack of acid.

Chef Grueneberg incorporated her Italian training while incorporating other flavors. Her three dishes featured a lobster ceviche, pasta and butter poached lobster. Making pasta from scratch in the limited time frame was Grueneberg advantage. Overall, her dishes let the delicate flavor of the lobster show.

The elimination was won by Chef Grueneberg. Chef Arrington was the first chef eliminated.

Based on the first episode, it is difficult to determine who might hold an advantage going into the remaining challenges. Like many of the reality television cooking shows, this Iron Chef involves some strategy. Of course, the chefs have to navigate the themes and secret ingredients, but the twist is the chefs choosing the elimination battle contestant.

Iron Chef Gauntlet Into The Woods Winner, photo by Food Network

While Chef Izard choose a fair way of choosing the chef for battle, other chefs could try to eliminate a bigger competitor. The goal is to enter the gauntlet against Iron Chefs Flay, Symon and Morimoto. Why shouldn’t the remaining chefs try to eliminate the big threats when they have the chance?

Iron Chef Gauntlet isn’t exactly the same as the original Iron Chef. This version has more twists and more references to current popular Food Network shows. It was good to see the secret ingredient challenge making an appearance. Although a few more references to the original show would be appreciated.

Which of the remaining six chefs will attain kitchen supremacy? Who will ultimately enter the gauntlet to battle the Iron Chefs? Tune in next week to see.

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Iron Chef Gauntlet airs on the Food Network on Sundays at 9 pm ET.