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Iron Chef Gauntlet
Iron Chef Gauntlet
Iron Chef Gauntlet
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Iron Chef Gauntlet
GenreReality television
Cooking show
Directed byEytan Keller
StarringAlton Brown
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
  • Matt Berkowitz
  • Eytan Keller
  • Stephen Kroopnick
  • Stu Schreiberg
ProducerJonathan Bourne
Production locationNew York City
Running time60 minutes
Production companyTriage Entertainment
Original release
NetworkFood Network
ReleaseApril 16, 2017 (2017-04-16) –
May 9, 2018 (2018-05-09)
Related
Iron Chef
Iron Chef America
The Next Iron Chef
Iron Chef Showdown
Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend

Iron Chef Gauntlet is a television series on Food Network that began airing on April 16, 2017.[1][2] The series is a reboot of the Iron Chef and Iron Chef America series that gained popularity on Food Network and is hosted by Alton Brown, who also takes over as the series' Chairman.[3] Seven chefs from around the country battle each other in an elimination contest, with the last chef remaining then facing a "gauntlet" challenge of defeating three other Iron Chefs in order to earn the title of Iron Chef. In the first season, the Iron Chefs forming the Gauntlet were Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto, and Michael Symon. The second season of Iron Chef Gauntlet began airing April 4, 2018 and was scheduled for six episodes.[4][5] The Gauntlet Iron Chefs for the second season were Alex Guarnaschelli, Gauntlet season one winner Stephanie Izard, and Michael Symon.[5]

Overview

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Each regular episode consists of two challenges. The first is the Chairman's Challenge, with Brown announcing a theme in which all chefs must cook a dish for him to judge.[6] The loser of this round is entered into the second round; the winner is safe from elimination for the week and may nominate one other chef to compete in the second round.

The second round is the Secret Ingredient Showdown, in which the two chefs have one hour to prepare three dishes featuring a mystery ingredient. The dishes are evaluated by a panel of two judges, who can each award up to 20 points (10 for taste, five each for plating and originality). The chef with the lower total is eliminated, while the winner advances to the next episode.

During the next-to-last episode of the season, which features three chefs, the loser of the Chairman's Challenge is automatically eliminated and the remaining two chefs compete in the Secret Ingredient Showdown.

In the season finale, the last remaining chef competes in three Secret Ingredient Showdowns, one against each of the three Iron Chefs. If the chef's overall score is higher than the combined total of the three, he/she is awarded the title of Iron Chef. If the chef's overall score falls short, no new Iron Chef is named for the season.[3]

Season 1: 2017

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Contestants

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Judges

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Contestant progress

[edit]
Contestant Episode
1 2 3 4 5 6
Izard WIN IN IN IN IN IN SEL WIN WIN WINNER IRON CHEF
Grueneberg LOW WIN WIN IN WIN IN IN IN IN OUT
Dady IN IN IN IN IN IN WIN IN OUT
Nakajima IN IN LOW WIN SEL WIN LOW OUT
Gulotta IN IN IN IN LOW OUT
Sawyer IN IN SEL OUT
Arrington SEL OUT
  (IRON CHEF) The final chef survived the Gauntlet and became an Iron Chef.
  (WINNER) This chef won the competition.
  (IN) The chef was not selected as a top or bottom entry in the Chairman's Challenge or did not compete in the Secret Ingredient Showdown.
  (LOW) The chef lost the Chairman's Challenge and must compete in the Secret Ingredient Showdown.
  (SEL) The chef was selected to compete in the Secret Ingredient Showdown.
  (WIN) The chef won the Chairman's Challenge or Secret Ingredient Showdown.
  (OUT) The chef lost the Secret Ingredient Showdown and was eliminated.

Results

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Episode 1: Into the Wild

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  • Chairman's Challenge: The chefs are given 30 minutes to prepare a dish using various wild game meats and earthy vegetables and mushrooms.
  • WINNER: Stephanie Izard
  • LOSER: Sarah Grueneberg
  • CHOSEN TO CHALLENGE: Nyesha Arrington
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown: Lobster is the secret ingredient.
  • WINNER: Sarah Grueneberg
  • ELIMINATED: Nyesha Arrington
  • First aired: April 16, 2017

Episode 2: Nose to Tail

[edit]
  • Chairman's Challenge: The chefs draw cards to select a cut of a suckling pig and must prepare a dish with their cut.
  • WINNER: Sarah Grueneberg
  • LOSER: Shota Nakajima
  • CHOSEN TO CHALLENGE: Jonathon Sawyer
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown: Bananas and plantains are the secret ingredients.
  • WINNER: Shota Nakajima
  • ELIMINATED: Jonathon Sawyer
  • First aired: April 23, 2017

Episode 3: Sweet and Savory

[edit]
  • Chairman's Challenge: The chefs are presented with a selection of sweet and savory items, but can only pick one item and must make both a sweet and a savory dish with it.
  • WINNER: Sarah Grueneberg
  • LOSER: Michael Gulotta
  • CHOSEN TO CHALLENGE: Shota Nakajima
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown: Octopus is the secret ingredient.
  • WINNER: Shota Nakajima
  • ELIMINATED: Michael Gulotta
  • First aired: April 30, 2017

Episode 4: Classic Combos

[edit]
  • Chairman's Challenge: The chefs are assigned a classic combination of flavors and must construct a dish around them.
  • WINNER: Jason Dady
  • LOSER: Shota Nakajima
  • CHOSEN TO CHALLENGE: Stephanie Izard
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown: Chicken is the secret ingredient.
  • WINNER: Stephanie Izard
  • ELIMINATED: Shota Nakajima
  • First aired: May 7, 2017

Episode 5: Five Ingredients

[edit]
  • Chairman's Challenge: The chefs are only allowed to use five ingredients to make their dish, but they may use as much of the ingredients as they choose. In addition, the chef who loses this challenge will be automatically eliminated.
  • WINNER: Stephanie Izard
  • ELIMINATED: Jason Dady
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown: Eggs are the secret ingredient.
  • WINNER: Stephanie Izard
  • ELIMINATED: Sarah Grueneberg
  • First aired: May 14, 2017

Episode 6: The Gauntlet

[edit]
  • Stephanie Izard must now compete against Iron Chefs Flay, Morimoto, and Symon in three separate Secret Ingredient Showdowns, in an order of her choosing.
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown 1: Peppers are the secret ingredient, and Izard chooses to battle Flay.
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown 2: Cheese is the secret ingredient, and Izard chooses to battle Symon.
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown 3: Tilefish is the secret ingredient, and by process of elimination, Izard battles Morimoto.
  • RESULTS: With a final total score of 90-87, Izard defeats the Iron Chefs and earns the title of Iron Chef.
  • NEW IRON CHEF: Stephanie Izard
  • First aired: May 21, 2017

Season 2: 2018

[edit]

Contestants

[edit]

Judges

[edit]

^Note 1 Alton Brown was added as a third judge only for the third battle of the Gauntlet

Contestant progress

[edit]
Contestant Episode
1 2 3 4 5 6
LeFevre IN IN SEL WIN IN IN SEL WIN IN WINNER LOST
Gomes IN IN IN IN WIN IN WIN IN IN OUT
Balloo IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN OUT
Thaimee IN IN WIN IN LOW WIN LOW OUT
Tien SEL WIN IN IN SEL OUT
MacKay WIN IN LOW OUT
Roland LOW OUT
  (LOST) This chef lost the Gauntlet and did not become an Iron Chef.
  (WINNER) This chef won the competition.
  (IN) The chef was not selected as a top or bottom entry in the Chairman's Challenge or did not compete in the Secret Ingredient Showdown.
  (LOW) The chef lost the Chairman's Challenge and must compete in the Secret Ingredient Showdown.
  (SEL) The chef was selected to compete in the Secret Ingredient Showdown.
  (WIN) The chef won the Chairman's Challenge or Secret Ingredient Showdown.
  (OUT) The chef lost the Secret Ingredient Showdown and was eliminated.

Results

[edit]

Episode 1: Resourcefulness

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  • Chairman's Challenge: The chefs are given 45 minutes to prepare a dish using as many preparations and parts of the various proteins they obtain from the altar.
  • WINNER: Dale MacKay
  • LOSER: Jeanie Roland
  • CHOSEN TO CHALLENGE: Kevin Tien
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown: Spanish mackerel is the secret ingredient.
  • WINNER: Kevin Tien
  • ELIMINATED: Jeanie Roland
  • First aired: April 4, 2018

Episode 2: Innovation

[edit]
  • Chairman's Challenge: The chefs must present an innovative sandwich in 30 minutes.
  • WINNER: Hong Thaimee
  • LOSER: Dale MacKay
  • CHOSEN TO CHALLENGE: David LeFevre
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown: Beets are the secret ingredient.
  • WINNER: David LeFevre
  • ELIMINATED: Dale MacKay
  • First aired: April 11, 2018

Episode 3: Versatility

[edit]
  • Chairman's Challenge: The chefs are given 30 minutes to prepare dishes with ingredients based on their assigned regional cuisine.
  • WINNER: Nicole Gomes
  • LOSER: Hong Thaimee
  • CHOSEN TO CHALLENGE: Kevin Tien
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown: Wild boar is the secret ingredient.
  • WINNER: Hong Thaimee
  • ELIMINATED: Kevin Tien
  • First aired: April 18, 2018

Episode 4: Ingenuity

[edit]
  • Chairman's Challenge: The final four chefs must prepare an inventive breakfast dish in 30 minutes.
  • WINNER: Nicole Gomes
  • LOSER: Hong Thaimee
  • CHOSEN TO CHALLENGE: David LeFevre
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown: Scallops are the secret ingredient.
  • WINNER: David LeFevre
  • ELIMINATED: Hong Thaimee
  • First aired: April 25, 2018

Episode 5: Adaptabiliity

[edit]
  • Chairman's Challenge: Each chef selected two ingredients that are difficult to pair, then assigned them to another chef. The chef who loses this challenge will be automatically eliminated.
  • WINNER: None
  • ELIMINATED: Timon Balloo
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown: Chops are the secret ingredient.
  • WINNER: David LeFevre
  • ELIMINATED: Nicole Gomes
  • First aired: May 2, 2018

Episode 6: The Gauntlet Finale

[edit]
  • David LeFevre must now compete against Iron Chefs Izard, Symon, and Guarnaschelli in three separate Secret Ingredient Showdowns. In each round, LeFevre must decide between two ingredients, with significance to his opponent, to use as the secret ingredient they both must use. The chefs will only prepare one dish in each showdown.
  • Secret Ingredient Showdown 1: Stephanie Izard

Goat and chocolate are the options, and LeFevre chooses goat.

  • Secret Ingredient Showdown 2: Michael Symon

Bacon and sturgeon are the options, and LeFevre chooses sturgeon.

  • Secret Ingredient Showdown 3: Alex Guarnaschelli

Eggplant and sea urchin are the options, and LeFevre chooses sea urchin. In addition, Alton Brown is added as a judge for this third battle.

  • RESULTS: With a final total score of 115-113, the Iron Chefs emerge as the victors, and LeFevre fails to become an Iron Chef.
  • First aired: May 9, 2018

Companion shows

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The Legend of Iron Chef

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The series was preceded by the special episode "The Legend of Iron Chef", an overview of Iron Chef, Iron Chef America and The Next Iron Chef on Food Network, with Alton Brown reviewing key aspects and highlights from the shows. It also previewed Iron Chef Gauntlet and Alton Brown's new role in the new show.[12]

Iron Chef Eats

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A companion series, Iron Chef Eats, has been produced to go along with Iron Chef Gauntlet. In the show, various restaurants and foods are profiled which are places where Iron Chefs and Iron Chef competitors go to eat.[13]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Iron Chef Gauntlet

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Iron Chef Gauntlet is an American reality cooking competition television series that premiered on Food Network on April 16, 2017, featuring seven up-and-coming chefs from across the United States who compete in high-stakes culinary battles using unusual and challenging secret ingredients from around the world. Hosted by Alton Brown, who also serves as the Chairman, the series combines elements of strategy, endurance, and creativity, with contestants facing weekly elimination rounds judged by a rotating panel of culinary experts, including guest appearances by established Iron Chefs. The ultimate goal is for the surviving chef to conquer the "Gauntlet," a grueling final challenge consisting of three consecutive battles against legendary Iron Chefs—Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto, and Michael Symon in season 1—to earn the prestigious Iron Chef title. The show's format emphasizes intense, timed cooking sessions where chefs must innovate with "feared" ingredients, such as exotic proteins or produce, while navigating interpersonal rivalries and tactical decisions, like selecting opponents for head-to-head matchups. Over its two seasons, Iron Chef Gauntlet highlighted rising talents, with season 1 (2017) culminating in Chicago chef Stephanie Izard winning the gauntlet against the three Iron Chefs by aggregate score after winning two battles and losing one, becoming an Iron Chef. In contrast, season 2 (2018) featured a different trio of Iron Chefs—Alex Guarnaschelli, Stephanie Izard, and Michael Symon—and ended without a new champion, as finalist David LeFevre won one battle, tied another, but fell short against Guarnaschelli by a narrow margin in the sea urchin showdown, judged by Donatella Arpaia and Marcus Samuelsson. This unique outcome underscored the series' high bar for victory, where even reaching the finale does not guarantee success, adding tension and realism to the competition. Despite its short run, Iron Chef Gauntlet revitalized the Iron Chef franchise by blending elimination tournament elements with the classic secret ingredient battles, earning praise for its focus on culinary skill over spectacle.

Premise and background

Overview

Iron Chef Gauntlet is an American competitive cooking television series that premiered on on April 16, 2017, as a reboot of the format. The show features seven rising American chefs who compete in an elimination-style tournament, facing off in intense kitchen battles centered around secret ingredients. Over two seasons airing through 2018, the series emphasizes high-stakes challenges that test contestants' culinary prowess. The core premise revolves around a "gauntlet" structure, where participants must demonstrate resourcefulness, innovation, and skill under time pressure to advance toward the ultimate title of . Each season builds tension through progressive rounds, culminating in a final confrontation that crowns a new among the survivors. This format draws from the original Japanese series of the , adapting its dramatic ingredient reveals and timed battles for an American audience. The show's appeal lies in its blend of culinary competition and spectacle, showcasing how challenging secret ingredients can inspire creative, high-pressure cooking. With a total of 12 episodes across its run, Iron Chef Gauntlet highlights the evolution of food television by focusing on emerging talents vying for legacy status.

Relation to Iron Chef franchise

The franchise originated in with the debut of Iron Chef on on October 10, 1993, where it ran until September 24, 1999, featuring high-stakes culinary battles between resident "Iron Chefs" and challengers in a theatrical arena known as Kitchen Stadium. The show's innovative format, blending competition, drama, and gourmet cuisine, gained international acclaim after airing on U.S. networks in the early , inspiring American adaptations. In the United States, launched Iron Chef America on January 16, 2005, adapting the Japanese concept with American chefs competing in one-hour battles against established Iron Chefs, and the series continued regularly until 2012. Complementing this, premiered in 2007 as a companion series, where elite chefs vied through multi-stage challenges to earn the Iron Chef title and join the roster for Iron Chef America battles, running annually until 2012. These U.S. iterations maintained the core premise of secret ingredients and timed cook-offs but localized the production with hosts like and a focus on diverse American culinary styles. Iron Chef Gauntlet, which premiered on April 16, 2017, serves as a revival of the franchise following the hiatus of its predecessors, hosted by and set in the iconic Kitchen Stadium. Unlike the traditional format of pitting a single challenger against an established in isolated episodes, Gauntlet emphasizes a competitive elimination tournament among rising American chefs to determine a new Iron Chef contender. This reboot shifts the focus to a prolonged "gauntlet" structure, where seven chefs progressively battle one another across multiple episodes using secret ingredients, culminating in the survivor facing the legendary Iron Chefs in rapid succession. The key distinction lies in its narrative of forging a new Iron Chef through internal rivalry and endurance, rather than standalone showdowns, thereby refreshing the franchise's legacy while honoring its competitive roots.

Format and rules

Competition structure

Iron Chef Gauntlet features a six-episode format per season, beginning with seven competing chefs and designed to progressively eliminate participants through structured challenges until a single finalist emerges to claim the title. In the first five episodes, the remaining chefs undertake the Chairman's Challenge, a themed individual competition judged solely by host , who identifies the top and bottom performers based on creativity, execution, and innovation in their dishes. The top chef then pairs with the bottom performer by selecting an opponent from the group to join them in the Showdown, a head-to-head elimination battle. The Secret Ingredient Showdown requires the two paired chefs to prepare three courses within a 60-minute time limit, centering their creations around a unveiled at the battle's outset to test adaptability and mastery under pressure. Guest judges evaluate the dishes on criteria such as flavor balance, presentation, and use of the ingredient, awarding points to determine the winner; the loser is eliminated, reducing the field by one chef per episode. This elimination process repeats across the preliminary episodes, narrowing the competitors from seven to three by the start of episode five. In episode five, with three chefs remaining, the Chairman's Challenge immediately eliminates the lowest performer, leaving two to proceed to a final Secret Ingredient Showdown that crowns the season's sole finalist. The sixth and final episode, titled "The Gauntlet," pits this finalist against three legendary Iron Chefs—Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto, and Michael Symon—in three rapid successive rounds, each featuring a new secret ingredient. The finalist strategically assigns each Iron Chef to a specific round based on the revealed ingredients, cooking within standard time constraints per battle; victory requires outperforming the combined point total of all three Iron Chefs, as decided by the judges, to earn the Iron Chef mantle. In season two, a cumulative points system supplements the format, assigning scores per challenge (4 for best, 0 for worst, 1 for others) to influence pairings and overall advancement, though the core elimination and gauntlet mechanics remain consistent.

Challenges and judging

The challenges in Iron Chef Gauntlet consist of two distinct formats per episode, designed to test contestants' technical skills, adaptability, and under pressure. The Chairman's Challenge requires all remaining competitors to simultaneously tackle a timed thematic task, often lasting 30 minutes, focused on concepts such as nose-to-tail utilization of ingredients to minimize waste or innovating dishes with constrained tools and resources. These prompts emphasize efficiency and precision, with host serving as the sole judge to identify the top and bottom performers based on execution and overall quality. The top performer then selects an opponent to face the bottom performer in the subsequent Showdown, creating an element of interpersonal strategy. The Secret Ingredient Showdown is a head-to-head elimination battle, typically allotted 60 minutes, where the two selected chefs must prepare multiple courses incorporating a surprise ingredient revealed at the start. Challenges here often explore versatility, such as adapting the ingredient for both sweet and savory applications or pairing it innovatively with complementary flavors. This format draws directly from the Iron Chef tradition, prioritizing the creative transformation of the into cohesive, high-impact dishes while adhering to time constraints and kitchen limitations. Judging for the Secret Ingredient Showdown is conducted by a panel of two culinary experts, who assess each chef's output across three key criteria: taste, , and . Each judge awards a maximum of 20 points per chef—10 for taste, 5 for , and 5 for (encompassing and effective use of the )—yielding a potential total of 40 points. The chef receiving the lowest aggregate score is eliminated from the competition. Ties are resolved by the head judge's individual score, ensuring a definitive outcome without further challenges.

Production

Development and broadcast

Food Network announced the development of Iron Chef Gauntlet in November 2016 as a reimagining of the long-running Iron Chef America series, which had concluded its original format after over a decade on air. The new competition aimed to revive the high-stakes culinary battles by pitting aspiring Iron Chefs against one another in an elimination gauntlet, hosted by Alton Brown, with production greenlit for a spring 2017 premiere. The series was produced by Triage Entertainment in collaboration with Food Network, drawing on the established Iron Chef format originally owned by Japan's Fuji Television. Filming took place at Food Network's studios in New York City, utilizing the iconic Kitchen Stadium set from the Iron Chef America era for its modern, high-tech production design. Season 1 aired from April 16 to May 21, 2017, consisting of six episodes broadcast weekly on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Season 2 followed from April 4 to May 9, 2018, also spanning six episodes on Wednesdays at the same time slot. No additional seasons have been produced or announced as of 2025.

Hosts and crew

Alton Brown served as the primary host and chairman for both seasons of Iron Chef Gauntlet, introducing the secret ingredients, providing expert commentary on the competitors' techniques, and overseeing the high-stakes battles in Kitchen Stadium. In this role, Brown drew on his extensive experience from previous Iron Chef iterations, where he had acted as commentator, to link challenges seamlessly and sustain the show's intense, fast-paced energy. His hosting ensured a consistent narrative flow, emphasizing the competitors' creativity under pressure while highlighting the legendary status of the Iron Chefs. The production was led by Triage Entertainment in collaboration with , with key executive producers including Matt Berkowitz, who served as and oversaw creative direction for both seasons, and Eytan Keller, who handled directing duties and contributed to production strategy. Additional executive producers John Bravakis and others from the team managed logistical and culinary aspects, ensuring the challenges aligned with the franchise's emphasis on innovative ingredient use. These personnel maintained uniformity in the show's format across seasons, focusing on high-production values and authentic culinary competition.

Season 1 (2017)

Contestants

The seven contestants for Season 1 of Iron Chef Gauntlet were selected as up-and-coming culinary talents from across the , competing in a format that tested their skills against each other and ultimately against Iron Chefs , , and . , based in , , was Executive Chef/Owner at Leona. She fell in love with cooking at age five alongside her grandmother and trained with masters like Joel Robuchon, Raphael Lunetta, and Josiah Citrin. Previously Executive Chef at Wilshire, she was named "Rising Star" by Angeleno magazine and recognized by .com (2012) and Eater LA as Chef of the Year, innovating with diverse cultural influences and French techniques. Jason Dady, from , , was Executive Chef/Owner of Jason Dady Restaurants, including Tre Trattoria and Two Bros. BBQ Market. A native since 2001, he earned "Best Chef: " and James Beard semifinalist honors, receiving CultureMap’s Tastemaker Award in 2016 for his Italian, BBQ, and modern American concepts. Sarah Grueneberg, operating out of , , was Chef/Partner at . Cooking since childhood, she rose to Executive Chef at Spiaggia (Michelin-starred 2010-2012). Acclaimed by and the in 2016 for her Italian-focused cuisine. Michael Gulotta, hailing from New Orleans, , owned MOPHO. A local native, he trained at Restaurant August and opened MOPHO in 2014, named "Restaurant of the Year" by New Orleans Magazine. He was 's "Best New Chef" in 2016, blending Vietnamese and Southern flavors. Stephanie Izard, based in , , owned Girl & the Goat, Little Goat, and Duck Duck Goat. A "Best Chef: " winner (2013) and "Best New Chef" (2011), she was known for bold, globally inspired dishes. Shota Nakajima, from Seattle, Washington, owned Adana (formerly Naka Kaiseki). Of Japanese heritage, he trained at Tsuji Culinary Arts School and focused on kaiseki and Japanese street food. Jonathan Sawyer, from Cleveland, Ohio, owned The Greenhouse Tavern and other spots. A Clevelander, he worked with Charlie Palmer and Michael Symon, winning James Beard "Best Chef: Great Lakes" in 2015 for his farm-to-table approach.

Judges

For Season 1 of Iron Chef Gauntlet, the judging panel rotated across episodes, featuring two celebrity chefs or experts per installment to evaluate creativity, technique, and theme alignment. This diverse group provided insights into global and innovative cuisines, assessing adaptability under pressure. In the premiere episode on resourcefulness, Iron Chef , known for precise French and Italian techniques from Chopped and restaurants like The Lambs Club, paired with , a New York specializing in upscale Italian and Mediterranean dishes. Their focus highlighted efficient use of ingredients. Episode 2 on nose-to-tail featured Iron Chef Jose Garces, celebrated for Peruvian and Spanish influences through Garces Group, and Anne Burrell, expert in bold Italian and American comfort foods from Worst Cooks in America, judging the banana showdown. For versatility in Episode 3, Marc Forgione, James Beard winner for inventive New American at Forgione, joined Giada De Laurentiis, Italian cuisine authority and Emmy winner, evaluating sweet-savory pairings and octopus battle. Episode 4's classic combos were judged by Iron Chef Cat Cora, first female Iron Chef with Greek-Mediterranean sustainable focus, and Ali Bouzari, food scientist and author on culinary science. In Episode 5 on simplicity, Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, known for boundary-pushing American and international from Alex vs. America, collaborated with Ching-He Huang, British-Chinese chef expert in Asian fusion from BBC shows, for the egg showdown. The finale featured Anya Fernald, sustainable food advocate and Belcampo founder, and Ludo Lefebvre, acclaimed French chef behind Trois Mec, determining the Gauntlet victor against the Iron Chefs. These judges emphasized cross-cultural innovation and high-stakes performance.

Contestant progress

In Season 1 of Iron Chef Gauntlet, seven chefs competed through elimination challenges, narrowing to a finalist who faced the Gauntlet against Iron Chefs Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto, and Michael Symon. Eliminations occurred via Chairman's Challenge results and Secret Ingredient Showdowns. The following table summarizes the contestant progress and elimination order:
PositionChefElimination Episode/ChallengeNotes
7thNyesha ArringtonResourcefulness (Episode 1)Lost Secret Ingredient Showdown to Sarah Grueneberg (lobster).
6thJonathan SawyerNose to Tail (Episode 2)Lost Secret Ingredient Showdown to Shota Nakajima (bananas).
5thMichael GulottaSweet and Savory (Episode 3)Lost Secret Ingredient Showdown to Shota Nakajima (octopus).
4thShota NakajimaClassic Combos (Episode 4)Lost Secret Ingredient Showdown to Stephanie Izard (chicken).
3rdJason DadyFive Ingredients (Episode 5)Eliminated directly after finishing last in Chairman's Challenge.
2ndSarah GruenebergFive Ingredients (Episode 5)Lost Secret Ingredient Showdown to Stephanie Izard (eggs).
1st (Winner)Stephanie IzardGauntlet Finale (Episode 6)Lost to Flay (peppers) but defeated Symon (cheese) and Morimoto (tilefish) overall (90-87 total points); became Iron Chef.

Episode 1: Resourcefulness

The season premiered with the Chairman's Challenge, where the seven contestants—, Jason Dady, , Michael Gulotta, , , and Jonathan Sawyer—demonstrated resourcefulness using wild game proteins like and salsify. won with her balanced dish, while placed last due to messy presentation. As winner, Izard chose to challenge Grueneberg in the Showdown with , requiring three dishes each. Grueneberg's inventive courses impressed judges and more than Arrington's, resulting in Arrington's elimination.

Episode 2: Nose to Tail

With six chefs left, the Chairman's Challenge focused on nose-to-tail pork utilization. won with her creative wontons using sweetbreads and pork cheeks, while finished last with an underwhelming . selected Jonathan Sawyer to face in the Showdown with bananas (including plantains and blossoms). 's Japanese-inspired courses, like plantain-miso scallops, outperformed Sawyer's and cake in the eyes of judges and , eliminating Sawyer.

Episode 3: Sweet and Savory

The five remaining chefs—Dady, Grueneberg, Gulotta, Izard, and Nakajima—tackled sweet-savory pairings with ingredients like and beets. Grueneberg won again with her beet dishes, while Michael Gulotta placed last. Grueneberg chose Nakajima to compete against Gulotta in the Showdown with . Nakajima's pickled and octopus shone over Gulotta's , leading to Gulotta's elimination by judges and .

Episode 4: Classic Combos

Down to four—Dady, Grueneberg, Izard, and Nakajima—the Chairman's Challenge reimagined classics like peanut butter-chocolate. Dady won with his coconut-lime , while Nakajima struggled with honey-mustard. Dady picked Izard to face Nakajima in the Showdown with chicken (including organs). Izard's bold dishes, like liver ice cream, bested Nakajima's, eliminating him as judged by and Ali Bouzari.

Episode 5: Five Ingredients

The final three—Dady, Grueneberg, and Izard—faced a simplicity challenge with five ingredients each, including lemon zest for Dady, for Grueneberg, and for Izard. Izard won with flawless , while Dady finished last and was eliminated directly for underusing zest. Izard then faced Grueneberg in the Showdown with eggs (duck, , ). Izard's and earned a 29-24 win over Grueneberg's raviolo and , as judged by and Ching-He Huang, advancing Izard to the finale.

Episode 6: The Gauntlet Finale

Stephanie Izard entered as the survivor, facing three rounds against Iron Chefs Flay, Symon, and Morimoto, choosing order and ingredients. In Round 1 vs. Flay (peppers), Flay won 31-27. Round 2 vs. Symon (cheese) saw Izard triumph 32-26. Round 3 vs. Morimoto (tilefish) ended Izard 31-30. Overall 90-87, Izard became the first female American Iron Chef, judged by Anya Fernald and Ludo Lefebvre.

Season 2 (2018)

Contestants

The seven contestants for Season 2 of Iron Chef Gauntlet were selected as rising stars in the culinary world, representing fresh talent from across following the inaugural season's success in identifying new Iron Chefs. These chefs, hailing from diverse backgrounds and specializing in a range of global influences, competed in a high-stakes format designed to test their adaptability and skill against established Iron Chefs , , and . Timon Balloo, based in , Florida, served as Executive Chef and Partner at SUGARCANE raw bar grill, where his dishes blend his Chinese and Indian-Trinidadian heritage with modern techniques. A Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant and a "People's Best New Chef" honoree, Balloo honed his skills in at Hotel Métropole in before working at notable spots like Azul in and SUSHISAMBA in . Nicole Gomes, from Calgary, Canada, owned Nicole Gourmet Catering and co-owned Cluck N’ Cleaver, drawing on over 20 years of international experience cooking in Paris, Sydney, and Hong Kong. As the winner of Top Chef Canada: All-Stars, she earned recognition as Western Living’s "Top 40 Foodies under 40" in 2013, emphasizing innovative comfort food with global flavors. David LeFevre, operating out of , was the chef-owner of Manhattan Beach Post, Fishing with Dynamite, and The Arthur J. A graduate of , he previously worked at ’s in and the Michelin-starred Water Grill in , earning three James Beard semifinalist nods for Best Chef: Pacific. His cuisine focuses on coastal seafood and seasonal California ingredients. , hailing from , , owned four restaurants in his hometown. A winner of , he trained under luminaries like and , with his establishments consistently ranked among Maclean’s "Top 100 Restaurants" from 2013 to 2017. MacKay's style merges Canadian prairie roots with refined French techniques. Jeanie Roland, from Punta Gorda, Florida, owned The Perfect Caper in Punta Gorda and Ella’s Fine Food in Rhode Island. With more than 25 years in the industry, she was a seven-time James Beard nominee and Beat Bobby Flay champion, incorporating French and Asian influences into her New American cuisine. Hong Thaimee, based in New York, New York, was the chef-owner of Thaimee Table, Thaimee Box, and Thaimee Magic, bringing authentic Thai flavors to the city. Originally from Thailand, she worked at Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s restaurants and received the Village Voice's "Best Thai Food in NYC" accolade in 2013; she also authored the cookbook True Thai in 2015. Kevin Tien, from Washington, D.C., was the chef at Himitsu, a modern Asian concept. Starting in his parents' restaurant, he later collaborated with James Beard Award-winning chefs and became a semifinalist for the James Beard Rising Star Chef award in both 2017 and 2018, known for bold, fusion-driven dishes.

Judges

For Season 2 of Iron Chef Gauntlet, the judging panel rotated across episodes, consisting of two celebrity chefs per installment who evaluated dishes based on creativity, technique, and alignment with the episode's theme, such as resourcefulness or ingenuity. This structure allowed for diverse perspectives on innovative culinary approaches, drawing from experts in global and modern cuisines to assess the contestants' ability to adapt and innovate under pressure. In the premiere episode focused on resourcefulness, , renowned for his meticulous French and Italian techniques honed through his role on Chopped and ownership of high-end restaurants like The Lambs Club, joined Ching-He Huang, a British-Chinese and authority on authentic and fusion Asian flavors featured on programs. Their expertise emphasized efficient ingredient use and bold flavor profiles, key to the season's innovative challenges. Subsequent episodes featured variations including , a Award winner for his inventive at restaurants like Forgione, and , a trailblazing Korean-British known for modernizing Korean dishes in her book Korean Food Made Simple and UK appearances, judging the innovation-themed sandwich battle. For versatility, , celebrated for his Peruvian and Spanish influences via Garces Group restaurants, paired with , a master of bold Italian and American comfort foods from . , expert in aggressive, boundary-pushing American and international dishes from Alex vs. America, and , a British-Indian food historian and critic emphasizing multicultural adaptability in Eat the World, evaluated ingenuity in breakfast creations. In the adaptability episode, , the first female with Greek-Mediterranean roots and a focus on sustainable, creative seafood from her Kitchen Little brand, collaborated with , a bestselling author and innovator in low-fat gourmet Italian-American fusion. The finale showcased , a New York restaurateur expert in upscale Italian and Mediterranean , alongside , an Ethiopian-Swedish chef pioneering global-African fusion at , to determine the ultimate contender through high-stakes gauntlet rounds. These selections highlighted the season's emphasis on cross-cultural innovation and resilience in high-pressure scenarios.

Contestant progress

In Season 2 of Iron Chef Gauntlet, seven chefs competed in a series of elimination challenges, with one or more eliminated per episode until a single finalist advanced to the Gauntlet Finale against Iron Chefs , , and . The competition structure ensured progressive eliminations based on Chairman's Challenge results and Showdowns. The following table summarizes the contestant progress and elimination order:
PositionChefElimination Episode/ChallengeNotes
7thJeanie RolandResourcefulness ( 1)Lost Showdown to Tien after finishing last in Chairman's Challenge.
6thDale MacKayInnovation ( 2)Lost Showdown to David LeFevre after finishing last in Chairman's Challenge.
5th TienVersatility ( 3)Lost Showdown after being selected by the Chairman's Challenge winner.
4thHong ThaimeeIngenuity ( 4)Lost Showdown to David LeFevre after finishing last in Chairman's Challenge.
3rdTimon BallooAdaptability ( 5)Eliminated directly after finishing last in Chairman's Challenge.
2ndNicole GomesAdaptability ( 5)Lost Showdown to David LeFevre.
1st (Finalist)David LeFevreGauntlet Finale ( 6)Defeated but tied with and lost to ; no new crowned.

Episode 1: Resourcefulness

The season premiered with the Chairman's Challenge, where the seven contestants—Timon Balloo, Nicole Gomes, David LeFevre, , Jeanie Roland, Hong Thaimee, and Kevin Tien—had to demonstrate resourcefulness by selecting a protein and creating a dish using it in multiple ways. won with his preparation featuring a chorizo crust and stew, while Jeanie Roland placed last due to a broken caused by timing issues. As the winner, MacKay chose Kevin Tien to challenge Roland in the Secret Ingredient Showdown featuring , where each had to produce three dishes. Tien's dishes, including pickled strawberry accents, impressed judges and Ching-He Huang for their taste and creativity more than Roland's taco-focused presentation, resulting in Roland's elimination.

Episode 2: Innovation

With six chefs remaining, the Chairman's Challenge required innovating a sandwich. Hong Thaimee emerged victorious with her Thai , praised for its creativity, while finished last with a wrapped in apple that suffered from flavor imbalance. Thaimee selected David LeFevre to face MacKay in the Showdown with beets. LeFevre's trio, including roasted beets with and , highlighted the ingredient effectively, outperforming MacKay's fish-wrapped beet leaf and flawed beet mousse in the eyes of judges and , leading to MacKay's elimination.

Episode 3: Versatility

The five remaining chefs—Balloo, Gomes, LeFevre, Thaimee, and Tien—tackled the Chairman's Challenge by creating dishes epitomizing the cuisines of , , , , or to prove their range. Timon Balloo won the challenge, while previous episode winner Hong Thaimee landed in the bottom, prompting Balloo to choose Kevin Tien as her challenger in the Showdown featuring wild boar. Judges and determined that Tien's execution fell short in the game meat battle, resulting in his elimination.

Episode 4: Ingenuity

Narrowed to four contestants—Balloo, Gomes, LeFevre, and Thaimee—the Chairman's Challenge banned pancakes and tasked them with inventive breakfasts. Nicole Gomes took the win with her Asian-inspired burrito-like breakfast sandwich, noted for its whimsical presentation and bold flavors, while Hong Thaimee placed last with a Thai-influenced dish criticized for lacking innovation and poor plating. Gomes chose David LeFevre to compete against Thaimee in the Secret Ingredient Showdown with scallops. LeFevre's three courses, varying textures from raw to paired with butternut squash, showcased the ingredient better than Thaimee's coconut-heavy progression and unbalanced blue tea sorbet, securing Thaimee's elimination.

Episode 5: Adaptability

The final three—Balloo, , and LeFevre—faced the Chairman's Challenge of pairing unlikely ingredients: Balloo with and , with oysters and , and LeFevre with and . David LeFevre won for his cohesive flavor journey, while Timon Balloo was eliminated from the challenge due to weak integration. In the Showdown, LeFevre faced in a three-course battle, where his braised , lamb, and earned a 37-31 victory over Gomes' elk tartare and Milanese, advancing LeFevre to the finale.

Episode 6: The Gauntlet Finale

David LeFevre entered the finale as the sole survivor, facing a three-round gauntlet against Iron Chefs , , and . In Round 1 against Izard, LeFevre selected over and presented a Moroccan-style dish with varied textures, outperforming Izard's creative but one-note ice cream and . Round 2 versus Symon featured sturgeon over ; LeFevre's puffed skin and poached fish tied Symon's smoky Asian preparation due to mutual critiques on repetition and bitterness. In the decisive Round 3 with Guarnaschelli, over proved challenging, as LeFevre's visually stunning lacked bold flavor compared to Guarnaschelli's genius fried urchin duo, resulting in LeFevre's overall loss and no new Iron Chef crowned.

Companion shows

The Legend of Iron Chef

The Legend of Iron Chef is a one-hour documentary special that aired on on April 16, 2017, immediately preceding the premiere of Iron Chef Gauntlet. Hosted by in his new role as Chairman, the program serves as a celebrating over 12 years of Iron Chef America, tracing the franchise's evolution from its high-stakes culinary origins. The special delves into the origins of the Iron Chefs within the franchise, highlighting pivotal moments such as iconic battles, groundbreaking ingredient challenges, and the chefs' lasting impact on competitive cooking. It features profiles of legendary figures like , whose innovative techniques and multiple victories helped define the series' intensity and global appeal, influencing subsequent iterations. Through archival footage and narration, recounts thrilling upsets and world-changing dishes that elevated beyond mere competition. As a promotional tie-in, The Legend of Iron Chef underscores the revival of the Iron Chef title through Gauntlet, positioning the new series as a worthy successor by emphasizing the enduring legacy of culinary excellence and the need for fresh challengers to uphold the tradition. Brown uses the special to introduce Gauntlet's format, teasing the gladiatorial battles ahead while reinforcing why the franchise merits a reboot after years of absence.

Iron Chef Eats

Iron Chef Eats is a lighthearted companion series to Iron Chef Gauntlet, premiering on on April 16, 2017. The program spotlights Iron Chefs and occasional Gauntlet participants as they visit casual eateries and street food vendors, revealing their personal favorites away from the high-stakes kitchen battles. By focusing on everyday indulgences like tacos, burgers, and , the series humanizes the competitors and underscores skills such as resourcefulness and adaptability in non-competitive settings. Episodes follow a thematic structure, typically running about 20-30 minutes, where featured chefs tour restaurants in cities like New York, , and New Orleans to sample and endorse dishes that reflect their off-duty palates. For instance, explores spicy tacos at Johnny Sanchez, while Gauntlet competitor Sarah Grueneberg recommends handheld bites at Trick Dog in . This format ties back to Gauntlet themes by demonstrating how competition-honed instincts apply to spontaneous, real-world eating experiences, without the pressure of timed challenges. Produced by as part of its 2017 spring lineup alongside , the series consists of a single 11-episode season that aired through 2017. It serves as an extension of the Gauntlet , offering fans accessible glimpses into the chefs' lives beyond the , produced by IW Productions.

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