Next Iron Chef Winner: Michael Symon

By JULIETTE ROSSANT Who was the biggest winner in The Next Iron Chef? Super Chef saw a very tight contest in the last of eight battles. Super Chef was not in the studio audience and did not taste the dishes in battle Swordfish. John Besh whipped out a last-minute dessert of swordfish mousse wrapped in brik served with berries to please judge Masaharu Morimoto. According to the judges, five of his seven dishes hit the mark perfectly including a seared and smoked swordfish loin sliced thin, served with salad and agnoletti filled with swordfish cheek served with a quick tomato sauce and basil foam. He also drew praised for swordfish steak served over a puree of cauliflower with chanterelles and bacon. Michael Symon made six dishes, and wowed the judges with four of them, including a clam with swordfish collar in a rich broth and swordfish cooked sous vide. He was more talkative during the competition, but both had good comments to make about what they were doing. Iron Chef America producers threw water in the hot oil with a last minute change: the judges for this last battle in Kitchen Stadium were replace with three of the four Iron Chefs - another hint that someone will be replacing Mario Batali. But after these new "judges" tasted the food, Alton Brown, the able host, brought in the three original judges to join them (who never appeared to have taste the food). Thus, the original judges based their decision on the previous seven competitions and the Iron Chefs judged only on this competition. Was that a last minute change in the rules to make sure the "right" guy won? Super Chef congratulates Michael Symon on becoming the next Iron Chef. Previous articles: Next Iron Chef: Bets? The Next Iron Chef: Eight is Enough Mario Batali Dumps Iron Chef for Gwyneth Paltrow The Next Iron Chef Iron Chef America: Milliken and Feniger v. Bobby Flay In the Audience of Iron Chef America Cat Cora Wins on Iron Chef America The Today Show Emulates Iron Chef America Anita Lo Defeats Mario Batali on Iron Chef America Iron Chef Pizza Wars: Batali vs. Puck Cat Cora: Iron Chef America's First Lady Iron Chef America: Running on Empty Iron Chef America v. USA [Food Television - complete] Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging --> back to Super Chef