About this season
Iron Chef America: The Series is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's Iron Chef, and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed Iron Chef USA. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the original Japanese program, the program is a culinary game show. In each episode, a new challenger chef competes against one of the resident "Iron Chefs" in a one-hour cooking competition based on a secret ingredient or ingredients, and sometimes theme. The show is presented as a successor to the original Iron Chef, as opposed to being a remake. The Chairman is portrayed by actor and martial artist Mark Dacascos, who is introduced as the nephew of the original Japanese chairman Takeshi Kaga. The commentary is provided solely by Alton Brown, & Kevin Brauch is the floor reporter. The music is written by composer Craig Marks, who released the soundtrack titled "Iron Chef America & The Next Iron Chef" by the end of 2010. In addition, regular ICA judge and Chopped host Ted Allen provided additional floor commentary for two special battles: Battle First Thanksgiving and Battle White House Produce.
Episodes (20)
1. Symon/Burrell vs. Cora/Irvine
Aired 2 January 2011
Theme : Deep freeze (multiple courses with a specified ingredient, containing a frozen element) Michael Symon and Anne Burrell team up to take on Cat Cora and Robert Irvine.
2. Flay vs. Hughes
Aired 9 January 2011
Theme : Canadian lobster It's network vs. network when Cooking Channel host Chuck Hughes uses his "Day Off" to enter into battle at Kitchen Stadium. Will Iron Chef Bobby Flay defend the honor of the Chairman, or will the new kid on the block take him down?
3. Forgione vs. Cantrel
Aired 23 January 2011
Theme : Gruyère cheese New York-based chef Nicolas Cantrel enters Kitchen Stadium to take on the newest addition to the Chairman's Iron Chef team, Marc Forgione. Will the Iron Chef do the Chairman proud, or will Chef Cantrel take down the newly crowned?
4. Garces vs. Solomonov
Aired 30 January 2011
Theme : Passion fruit It's a Philadelphia showdown as Chef Michael Solomonov takes on Iron Chef Jose Garces. Will Kitchen Stadium be filled with brotherly love, or sibling rivalry?
5. Garces vs. Medina
Aired 13 February 2011
Theme : Mexican chocolate Mexico City native Chef Julian Medina enters Kitchen Stadium to challenge the master of Latin food, Iron Chef Jose Garces. Which chef has the flavor, and which will fall flat?
6. Morimoto vs. Sedlar
Aired 20 February 2011
Theme : Quail Chefs: Chef John Rivera Sedlar and Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto square off.
7. Symon vs. Hearst
Aired 6 March 2011 • 60 min
Theme : Mozzarella Chef Emma Hearst is the youngest challenger ever to enter Kitchen Stadium! She challenges old pro Iron Chef Michael Symon. Will youth and exuberance trump age and experience?
8. Cora vs. Schneider
Aired 10 April 2011
Theme : Leg of lamb Challenging Chef David Schneider channels his inner Ares as he enters Kitchen Stadium to battle Iron Chef Cat Cora in a showdown of Greek cuisine. Who's cuisine will reign supreme?
9. Garces vs. Paley
Aired 17 April 2011
Theme : Radish Challenging Chef Vitaly Paley abandoned a career behind the piano for a career behind the burners. Will he play a song of victory against Iron Chef Garces?
10. Morimoto vs. Pasternack
Aired 1 May 2011
Theme : Wreckfish New York chef David Pasternak and Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto square off in Kitchen Stadium.
11. Flay vs. Stein
Aired 15 May 2011
Theme : Mussels Chicago chef Todd Stein is the challenger against Iron Chef Bobby Flay.
12. Symon vs. Mooking
Aired 29 May 2011
Theme : Hot dogs Toronto chef Roger Mooking ("Everyday Exotic") battles Iron Chef Michael Symon in Kitchen Stadium.
13. Flay vs. Christensen
Aired 24 July 2011
Theme : Chum salmon Raleigh Chef Ashley Christensen battles Iron Chef Bobby Flay in Kitchen Stadium.
14. Symon vs. Johnson
Aired 31 July 2011
Theme: Cucumber
15. Morimoto vs. Tila
Aired 7 August 2011
Theme: Seaweed
16. Garces vs. Casella
Aired 28 August 2011
Theme: Hawaiian Snapper
17. Cora vs. Carter
Aired 4 September 2011
Theme: Okra
18. Flay vs. Staib
Aired 2 October 2011
Theme: Short Ribs
19. Forgione vs. Wong
Aired 23 October 2011
Theme: Halloween candy
20. Flay vs. Knibb
Aired 27 November 2011
Theme: Caviar West coast chef, Jason Knibb challenges Bobby Flay to a special seafood showdown. Whose cuisine will reign supreme?