One of the most entertaining spectacles on television can be found every week on the Food Network. The concept of the program sounds like a twisted dream"prominent chefs from all over the world go head to head in competitions more suited for All Japan Pro Wrestling. That's exactly the premise of Iron Chef, which is hands down the most compelling cooking show on television. Even non-gourmands will enjoy the fast paced competition and the near incomprehensibility of the show.
The story behind the show goes something like this--there's this rich dude, MC Kaga who summons the finest chefs in Japan to do battle in his kitchen stadium. Needless to say, a TV studio wouldn't suffice for such a production: the kitchen stadium is in Kaga's castle. Also in residence are three Iron Chefs, each representing a different type of cuisine (Chinese, French and Japanese). The summoned culinary challenger picks which Iron Chef he wants to take a crack at and the contest begins. The show was originally created by the Fuji TV network in the Japan, and the original Japanese title translates literally to The Iron Men of Cooking.
But wait, there's more"the chefs just don't pull out the best dishes from their repertoire. There's a catch to the contest, and thats the fact that every dish must contain the theme ingredient which is kept a mystery until immediately before the contest begins. At that time, Kaga brings forth a heaping helping of whatever the current mystery ingredient is in a production of smoke and pyrotechnics straight out of a KISS concert. Sometimes the ingredient is something basic like tofu or apples, but it can also be something obscure like ox tail or some obscure shellfish.
At that point, the chefs have an hour to prepare a seven course meal, served to a discerning panel of B-List celebrities that usually include a couple of 'TV Presenters' and a 'fortune teller'. The judges rate and discuss each course and declare a winner.
The announcing is what makes the show. There's a hysterical play by play announcer, an excitable color commentator, and an even more hyperactive sideline correspondent who will break in the commentary frequently with revelations such as observing that a chef is using fresh ginger in a dish or some similar piece of trivia. Apparently one of the announcers is a legit sumo wrestling announcer in Japan, making the strange connection between 'Iron Chef' and Japanese pro wrestling even more pronounced.
The dishes that the chefs come up with are always pretty amazing, creative and complex--if not always appetizing. Some of their creations look yummy, but a dessert with a compulsory use of carp isn't exactly mouth watering for American palates. Nonetheless, the creative process and intensity of the competitors is amazing. Even as challenging as this is, the requirement that a theme ingredient be used in every component of the meal really ups the ante.
The Food Network has recently begun production of a native grown version called 'Iron Chef America'. It has a similar format, but really loses a lot from the Fuji TV original.
The story behind the show goes something like this--there's this rich dude, MC Kaga who summons the finest chefs in Japan to do battle in his kitchen stadium. Needless to say, a TV studio wouldn't suffice for such a production: the kitchen stadium is in Kaga's castle. Also in residence are three Iron Chefs, each representing a different type of cuisine (Chinese, French and Japanese). The summoned culinary challenger picks which Iron Chef he wants to take a crack at and the contest begins. The show was originally created by the Fuji TV network in the Japan, and the original Japanese title translates literally to The Iron Men of Cooking.
But wait, there's more"the chefs just don't pull out the best dishes from their repertoire. There's a catch to the contest, and thats the fact that every dish must contain the theme ingredient which is kept a mystery until immediately before the contest begins. At that time, Kaga brings forth a heaping helping of whatever the current mystery ingredient is in a production of smoke and pyrotechnics straight out of a KISS concert. Sometimes the ingredient is something basic like tofu or apples, but it can also be something obscure like ox tail or some obscure shellfish.
At that point, the chefs have an hour to prepare a seven course meal, served to a discerning panel of B-List celebrities that usually include a couple of 'TV Presenters' and a 'fortune teller'. The judges rate and discuss each course and declare a winner.
The announcing is what makes the show. There's a hysterical play by play announcer, an excitable color commentator, and an even more hyperactive sideline correspondent who will break in the commentary frequently with revelations such as observing that a chef is using fresh ginger in a dish or some similar piece of trivia. Apparently one of the announcers is a legit sumo wrestling announcer in Japan, making the strange connection between 'Iron Chef' and Japanese pro wrestling even more pronounced.
The dishes that the chefs come up with are always pretty amazing, creative and complex--if not always appetizing. Some of their creations look yummy, but a dessert with a compulsory use of carp isn't exactly mouth watering for American palates. Nonetheless, the creative process and intensity of the competitors is amazing. Even as challenging as this is, the requirement that a theme ingredient be used in every component of the meal really ups the ante.
The Food Network has recently begun production of a native grown version called 'Iron Chef America'. It has a similar format, but really loses a lot from the Fuji TV original.
About the Author:
Ross Everett is an extensively published freelance writer and a respected authority on sports betting and harness racing. He contributes NFL football betting free picks for a number of media outlets. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pot bellied pig.
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