Analysis of Iron Chef America
There are two things you need to understand before reading further.
Iron Chef proper is without a doubt my favorite food show of all time. I've seen virtually ever episode they've released in the States.
All previous attempts at importing Iron Chef were, to me, low budget and low quality Americanized bastardizations of the original. You know - Flay electrocuting himself at Webster Hall. The Zagat family judges. Flay. William Shatner. Flay.
Needless to say, I had relatively low expectations for the new Iron Chef America. After I stumbled across my first episode of Flay v. Bayless, I have to tell you....I think it's pretty good. The overall quality of the production - from timing, commentary (Alton Brown fills the know-it-all food geek role well) and dedication to developing a forum for high-end cooking is overall well done.
I am generally encouraged by Iron Chef America, but have these four areas of improvement that I'm going to monitor moving forward......
Challenger List Less than Impressive
Overall, I think the challengers lack name value and intrigue. Trevino...who? Laiskonis...a pastry chef? And worst of all - Scott Campbell. Honestly, his restaurant is best know for brunch. It is not even the best brunch in my neighborhood. His menu rarely changes. The most inventive item is...ur...an omelet with goat cheese. Cmon! There are so many up and coming stars in the world ( Spain) let alone NYC that would be more intriguing. Booooo. Alex Lee, former chef at Daniel, Anito Lo, and Ming Tsai should all be great challengers, though.
Challengers Don't Choose the Iron Chef
Iron Chef proper has the challenger choose the Iron Chef they'd like to battle. Of course, this creates tension. The challengers have something to prove, the Iron Chefs something to defend. It is clear that Iron Chef America does not have that tension. The challengers don't choose their Iron Chefs. In fact, the challengers rarely have anything in common with their Iron Chefs. The chef from Italy vs. Morimoto? The pastry chef vs. Molto? Molto vs. the Nuevo Latino Trevino? Again, the worst is Batali vs. Campbell. Molto is one of the most successful chefs in the city. Campbell has a neighborhood brunch place. Snooze.
Morimoto?
Only 2 of the first 10 episodes feature the Iron Chef veteran. A major bummer. Less Flay, more Morimoto.
Judges with Personality
The judges from battle #1 were awful, other than Jeffrey Steingarten. A local anchor woman, a random Zagat's editor that decides which of the random consumer quotes make it into the red book? Iron Chef proper gets it right with the mix of A-B list artists, government authorities (lower house member!) and food critic/part time fortune teller. There needs to be some character and edginess in the group. Anthony Bourdain, where are you?
Agree totally. At least they didn't make Emeril an Iron Chef. I'd like to see Batali vs. Emeril and Flay together so both those jokers get put in their place. Whatever happened to Sakai? Guess he was too Japanese.
Posted by: Brett | January 30, 2005 at 02:12 PM
While we're at it, let's get rid of that sideline reporter (Kevin?). Can't pronouce food names, don't know what fois gras looks like, and doesn't provide a tiny bit of useful information!
Posted by: Jason | February 03, 2005 at 05:50 PM
you're right - kevin or whatever is a bit of a wanker.
i'd pay to see emeril on one of these episodes. if he were on, i'm sure they'd put him against an easy win like scott 'omelet' campbell.
Posted by: joe | February 03, 2005 at 06:10 PM
Kevin's only qualification for "floor reporter" seems to be his trendy jacket. Thick voiced and slow!! I was spoiled by Ohta on the Japanese show.
Posted by: Unclebeef | February 05, 2005 at 07:23 PM
Anyone notice Flay plating his Chop during the bison battle with (far classier) Rick Bayless. His thumb stained with a sauce from a different dish left a huge dirty print on the side of his nice pink chop. Camera focused on this impremateur of sloppiness many times, no comment from Alton or judges. Amazingly Flay won the match.
Posted by: Unclebeef | February 07, 2005 at 05:48 PM
no, i didn't see that but will look for it on reruns. nice catch. i was too blinded by the five sauces on flay's plate to notice anything else.
found this link on kevin (aka budget ohta):
http://www.foodtv.ca/tv/hosts/hostdetails/host_29017.asp
Posted by: joe | February 07, 2005 at 06:17 PM