Next week on Iron Chef America: Behind the scenes!

[thewayne]

Should be cool, I'm looking forward to it. I still think the Japanese version is better, though the American version may not be as entertaining for me, it's still decent.

Comments

Re: Blashphemy!

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

There are two things that I miss from the Japanese version, and I'd not noticed the live ingredient issue, so make it three. First, the absence of a live audience. That added so much to the show. Second, though I love Alton Brown, I really liked having the set-up of a commentator plus a food expert like Dr. Hatori. I don't think Alton is in quite the same league as Hatori.

But you have to admit -- the current American version beats the snot out of the abomination that was the Shatner version. ;)

Re: Blashphemy!

[magic-rat.livejournal.com]

In defense of the current version, the Japanese Iron Chef is no longer in production, so having the American version (which changed for the better from the initial special) is better than nothing. I like Alton Brown as the commentator (although I also prefer the Japanese commentators). All four of the current American Iron Chefs are entertaining, especially Mario Batali (who regularly banters with Alton Brown and Kevin Brasch). I don't particularly care for the mandatory five dishes, nor do I care for the formalized judging rules that must be explained every week. Overall, I watch it because it's more entertaining than most other shows on television.

Oh, and they have used a live secret ingredient on the American Iron Chef, but understand that both shows tailored their secret ingredients more toward the cuisine of their audience. The live secret ingredients were always seafood (if you don't count vegetables), and speaking in general terms, the Japanese eat a lot more seafood than Americans. However, I have seen an American Iron Chef show that featured live seafood (I believe it was catfish). But since they feature seafood less regularly than the Japanese show, it's not surprising that there would be less live secret ingredients.

Re: Blashphemy!

[keleos.livejournal.com]

Alton Brown is brilliant. I own half his kitchen gadgets, including a $60 teapot with steam powered rockets that spin around the outside. Love Alton Brown. But you're right, he's no Doc Hatori. And yes, this version is better than the Shatner version.

It's still not Iron Chef.

Until somebody creates fish roe ice cream and makes it look like a bunny with fried fish skin ears, it's not Iron Chef. Long live Sakai.