Plot Synopsis

Hosted by Alton Brown, each six-episode season of IRON CHEF GAUNTLET features seven chefs competing for the chance to become an Iron Chef. Each week one will rise and one will fall until a single chef is left standing, but in order to gain entry into this ultimate culinary society, one gladiator must win the Gauntlet by conquering three rapid-succession Secret Ingredient battles, each against one legendary Iron Chef: Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto, and Michael Symon (Season 1) or Alex Guarnaschelli, Stephanie Izard and Michael Symon (Season 2). Only if the finalist receives more points than the Iron Chefs combined will history be made, joining the coveted ranks of Iron Chefs, otherwise they will leave the kitchen in utter defeat. In the first five episodes, the competitors endure two grueling rounds of cooking starting with the Chairman's Challenge where Alton delivers a themed challenge and is the sole decision maker on the most and least successful chef. The winner then selects a competitor to join the bottom chef in the Secret Ingredient Challenge, where they must cook three dishes featuring the secret ingredient presented on the altar. A panel of rotating judges send the least successful chef home each week, while the winner is sent back to battle. Season 1 guest judges include Iron Chefs Cat Cora, Marc Forgione, Jose Garces, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Geoffrey Zakarian and food experts Donatella Arpaia, Ali Bouzari, Anne Burrell, Giada De Laurentiis, Anya Fernald, Ching-He Huang and Ludo Lefebvre. The competitors are: Nyesha Arrington (Los Angeles, California; Executive Chef/Owner, Leona); Jason Dady (San Antonio, Texas; Executive Chef/Owner, Tre Trattoria); Sarah Grueneberg (Chicago, Illinois; Executive Chef/Owner, Monteverde); Michael Gulotta (New Orleans, Louisiana; Executive Chef/Owner MOPHO); Stephanie Izard (Chicago, Illinois; Executive Chef/Owner Girl & the Goat); Shota Nakajima (Seattle, Washington; Executive Chef/Owner, Adana) and Jonathon Sawyer (Cleveland, Ohio; Executive Chef/Owner, The Greenhouse Tavern). In the premiere episode, Alton welcomes judges Arpaia and Zakarian and the seven chefs and presents the first Chairman's Challenge ingredients: an array of wild ingredients. The chefs must use their expert technique to make a top-tier dish right out of the gate. Alton determines the most and least successful dishes, and the bottom-rated chef is thrown into the deep end for a Secret Ingredient Showdown against a competitor chosen by the winner. Season 2 of IRON CHEF GAUNTLET premiered on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network. To join the Iron Chef pantheon, the last chef standing must win the Gauntlet -- three rapid-succession battles, each against incomparable Iron Chefs Alex Guarnaschelli, Stephanie Izard and Michael Symon -- or leave the kitchen in defeat. This season, the competitors endure two grueling rounds of cooking starting with the Chairman's Challenge, where host Alton Brown delivers a themed challenge and is the sole decision maker on the most and least successful chef. The winner then selects a competitor to join the bottom chef in the Secret Ingredient Challenge, where they must cook three dishes featuring a secret ingredient. A panel of rotating judges send the least successful chef home each week, while the winner is sent back to battle. In the finale on Wednesday, May 9th at 9pm, the last chef standing has the Iron Chef title in reach -- but first, the chef must run the Gauntlet. Only if the finalist receives more points than the Iron Chefs combined will history be made, joining the coveted ranks of Iron Chefs, otherwise they will leave the kitchen in utter defeat. Iron Chef Gauntlet competitors this season include: Timon Balloo (Miami, Florida - Partner/Executive Chef, Sugarcane); Nicole Gomes (Calgary, Canada - Owner/Executive Chef, Nicole Gourmet); David LeFevre (Manhattan Beach, California - Owner/Executive Chef, Manhattan Beach Post); Dale Mackay (Saskatoon, Canada - Owner/Executive Chef, Grassroots Restaurant Group); Jeanie Roland (Punta Gorda, Florida - Owner/Executive Chef, The Perfect Caper); Hong Thaimee (New York, New York - Owner/Executive Chef, Thaimee Table) and Kevin Tien (Washington D.C. - Owner/Executive Chef, Himitsu). Season 2 guest judges are: Geoffrey Zakarian, Ching-He Huang, Marc Forgione, Judy Joo, Jose Garces, Anne Burrell, Alex Guarnaschelli, Simon Majumdar, Cat Cora, Rocco DiSpirito, Donatella Arpaia, and Marcus Samuelsson.
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On Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT, Food Network premiered "The Gauntlet Finale," the Season 2 finale of IRON CHEF GAUNTLET. David LeFevre, the last chef standing, faces almost insurmountable odds when he must cook his way through the three-round Gauntlet against Iron Chefs Alex Guarnaschelli, Stephanie Izard and Michael Symon. But in a surprise twist, the Chairman allows the challenger to decide which ingredient they'll battle each Iron Chef with, and judges Donatella Arpaia and Marcus Samuelsson decide whether the competitor leaves in defeat or joins the coveted ranks of the Iron Chefs.