Iron Chef Gauntlet will see talented chefs compete for the right to be called an Iron Chef. Given its name, it should come as no surprise to learn that it is a reboot of the Iron Chef franchise that became so popular on Food Network. However, it is important to note that it incorporates some changes that promise to make for better TV than ever before.
Here are five things that you may or may not have known about Iron Chef Gauntlet:
Combines Next Iron Chef and Iron Chef: America
Iron Chef Gauntlet can be seen as a combination of Next Iron Chef and Iron Chef: America. In brief, it starts with a competition between seven chefs, with each episode featuring both a Chairman’s Challenge and a Secret Ingredient Challenge. Afterwards, the winner from the first competition will face three Iron Chefs in the titular gauntlet, thus making for even more excitement than otherwise possible.
A New Iron Chef Is Not Guaranteed
There is no guarantee that a new Iron Chef will emerge from Iron Chef Gauntlet. After all, if one of the participants is interested in claiming the position, said individual will have to emerge as the victor of the first round before beating not one, not two, but all three of the Iron Chefs who have been chosen for the gauntlet. Given that the three Iron Chefs are Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto, and Michael Symon, it is not unreasonable to speculate that there might be no new Iron Chef at the end.
Alton Brown Will Be Both Host and Chairman
Alton Brown has been a host as well as a commentator on previous seasons. However, it is interesting to note that he will now be the Chairman in addition to being the host, thus providing him with that much more control over the tone of the competition. For those who are unfamiliar with his name, Brown is a TV personality who also happens to be a best-selling author, meaning that the viewers should be in good hands.
Change of Tone
On a related note, Brown has stated that there will be a change in the tone of the TV show so as to put increased emphasis on the food rather than the franchise’s more kitschy elements. This doesn’t mean that Iron Chef Gauntlet will make a complete transition to being a super-serious cooking TV show like some of the other cooking shows out there. Instead, it will strive to ensure that its drama is food-based drama, thus striking a fine balance between two important priorities for its success.
Both Newcomers and Old Hands
The people who will be competing on Iron Chef Gauntlet are a combination of newcomers and old hands. For example, both Nyesha Arrington and Stephanie Izard have competed on previous seasons. In contrast, this is the first time for Shota Nakajima, who has an excellent reputation that is supported by how he has just given his restaurants a makeover so as to make it both more accessible and more affordable.
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