Last season on The Next Iron Chef, ten chefs went head to head to compete for the title and prize. After competitions with secret ingredients ranging from pickles to lobster, there was only one who emerged as the victor. In the end, it was a battle between two owners of New York restaurants: Marco Canora and Marc Forgione.
Marco had won five challenges throughout the show, but it was Marc who ended up winning the competition. We've got a bunch of new contestants for The Next Iron Chef season 4, and it's surely going to be a tougher time in the kitchen this time around.
What to Expect on The Next Iron Chef Season 4:
We've got a new set of judges again. The Food Network announced that this season's panel will consist of esteemed food journalist Simon Majumdar and UK Iron Chef Judy Joo. Heading the group is Michael Symon, winner of the first season of The Next Iron Chef.
The contestants, meanwhile, are all mainstays on The Food Network. It's practically an all-star season with this list.
- Anne Burrell - host of Food Network shows such as Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and Worst Cooks in America; also the sous-chef of Mario Batali on Iron Chef America
- Michael Chiarello - hosts Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello on the Cooking Channel and is the owner of Bottega Restaurant in Napa Valley
- Elizabeth Falkner - owns Citizen Cake and Orson in San Francisco; has appeared as challenger on Iron Chef America
- Alex Guarnaschelli - owner of Butter and The Darby in New York, in addition to hosting Alex's Day Off and a judge on Chopped
- Chuck Hughes - the owner of Garde Manger in Montreal, where he is also a chef; hosts Chuck's Day Off on the Cooking Channel and was a challenger on Iron Chef America
- Robert Irvine - the chef and owner of Robert Irvine's eat! on Hilton Head Island, and host of shows like Dinner: Impossible, Restaurant: Impossible and Worst Cooks in America
- Beau MacMillan - the executive chef of Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, in addition to appearing as a challenger on Iron Chef America
- Spike Mendelsohn - owns and cooks for Good Stuff Eatery in Washington D.C., in addition to hosting Kelsey & Spike Cook at Food2.com
- Marcus Samuelsson - chef and owner of the Red Rooster Harlem in New York, and is the judge of Food Network shows like 24 Hour Restaurant Battle and Chopped
- Geoffrey Zakarian - chef and owner of NY restaurants The National and The Lambs Club, also known as a judge on the shows 24 Hour Restaurant Battle and Chopped
There haven't been any details on the challenges these chefs will face on The Next Iron Chef season 4, but with a cast like that, anything can happen. They'll have to handle whatever secret ingredient is presented to them, along with dealing with their fellow superstars in the kitchen.
Reputations will be put to the test, and the winner will receive quite an honor: whoever brings home the title of The Next Iron Chef will become one of the members of the Chairman's team on Iron Chef America. Don't miss the premiere on October 30 at 9pm on The Food Network.
(Image courtesy of The Food Network)