Get ready for a new Food Network reality series—The Next Iron Chef premieres Sunday, October 7, at 9 p.m. After combing the country for new “culinary stars,” Bob Tuschman, senior vice president of programming and production at the Food Network, announced the following list of competitors who’ll be vying for the Iron Chef title:
John Besh (New Orleans) Executive Chef, Restaurant August, Besh Steak, Lüke, and La Provence
Chris Cosentino (San Francisco) Executive Chef, Incanto
Jill Davie (Santa Monica) Chef de Cuisine, Josie
Traci Des Jardins (San Francisco) Executive Chef and Co-Owner, Jardinière, Mijita, and Acme Chophouse
Gavin Kaysen (San Diego) Chef de Cuisine, El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn
Morou Ouattara (Washington, DC) Executive Chef and Owner, Farrah Olivia
Aarón Sánchez (New York) Executive Chef and Owner, Centrico and Paladar
Michael Symon (Cleveland) Executive Chef and Owner, Lola and Lolita
The judges for the show will include cookbook author and food writer Michael Ruhlman, Bon Appétit Associate Editor Andrew Knowlton, and the glamorous New York City restaurateur Donatella Arpaia. At the end of the series, the last chef standing will be cooking with Mario, Bobby, Morimoto, and Cat in the Kitchen Stadium. Anybody feel like placing an early bet on the winner?
Now this is a reality show that I might actually watch – provided that the emphasis is on the creativity and competency of the cooking and not on personalities and mini-dramas. I’m guessing that Ruhlman and Knowlton might make for decent judges – don’t know about Arpaia, though.
…”Anybody feel like placing an early bet on the winner?”
Makes me wonder if somewhere in Vegas one could actually place a wager on the outcome of a show like this?
Please, ANYONE to get Bobby Flay off my television screen! (Is he really Howdy Doody on meth?)
It would be great to get Aaron Sanchez back onto television. He’s dynamic, inventive, fun, and easy on the nerves (unlike most of the others we’re forced to watch regularly). He likely won’t make it given the rather auspicious competition, but that’s not because he isn’t really good it’s just that he tends to be a ‘real’ person.
I’m already rooting for Cosentino… but maybe that’s just the delicious Incanto headcheese I had the other night talking. Go Chris!
And — Howdy Doody on meth. Bwahahahaha.
My money is on John Besh. His restaurants are fantastic.
The choices are fantasmagorical; however, I really want to see someone who not only is a great communicator and great chef but also someone who’s not an inveterate phony like so many of them that are already on air :)
I will physically stop J. Besh from leaving his nola posts for that cheesy spinoff of a great japanese concept.
Chef Ouattara’s already won, they don’t even need to do the show. Farrah’s one of my favorite restaurants on the east coast.
Updated: At the end of the series, the last chef standing will be cooking with Bobby, Morimoto, and Cat in the Kitchen Stadium.
Mario’s contract not renewed