The 'secret' ingredient

Docsmith · 08-07-2008, 03:08 PM

A quick introduction, I've been a big FN fan for quite a while and have taken up a lot of home cooking because of it. I started watching it because of Iron Chef Japan, back when FN had it, and up until what I view as a rigged contest (I'm a Besh guy) I always watched ICA and still do from time to time.

Ok maybe someone who knows more can tell me but..... I got this information second hand.

A very good friend is friends with an upcoming ICA challenger and apparently they are given 3 possible ingredients before hand, with one being the secret ingredient. In retrospect this makes sense, as it explains some of those odd chef pantry items they bring that just seem to work so well for the ingredient, but it does take the show down a notch for me as I thought the true skill in the show was coming up with the dishes on the fly. I might never win an ICA battle but even I could come up with 5 ok dishes if you gave me the ingredient ahead of time.

So does anyone know if this is true? I didn't watch the Nightline episode so maybe it came out there, but I dont' recall it from the behind the scenes ICA show.

ibcheft · 08-07-2008, 03:17 PM

They had a behind the scenes show a while back and that was one of the things brought out, that they were given 3 possibilities of the ingredient. If I remember right ALton talked about it just before they went to a commercial break. It was an interesting show of what goes on, do not know if it is rescheduled to play again but it more than likely will.

Food Network Fan · 08-07-2008, 03:24 PM

I think we have some posts on it here. Besh was my favorite too. I am a big Besh fan. I am still hoping they will find a place for him on the Food Network.

Pluff Mudder · 08-07-2008, 04:07 PM

I was another one rooting for Besh.

Welcome to the board Docsmith!

aoneil · 08-07-2008, 04:12 PM

That is true....I read it somewhere. Just don't ask me where.

ibcheft · 08-07-2008, 04:38 PM

They need to have Cooking with John, New Orleans style. You would think since one of his restaurants is in Harrah's they would push for a show, for the advertisement, you would also think New Orleans would to bring back in the tourist. Maybe he does not want a show ? with all he has going, but than we want him to do a show.

MiseEnPlace · 08-07-2008, 05:52 PM

I believe it did come up in the Nightline profile that the chefs are told the secret ingredient will be 1 of 3 things. (I posted a link to the show on ABC.com in the ICA on Nightline post) Plus from other behind the scenes shows on ICA, chefs are allowed to bring their own supplies.

There are a couple of videos on FN's ICA site. Watch the one called "Alton's Role" (you have to scroll through the videos to get it and the others) he talks about the pantry items. Then there are others on behind the scenes and shopping with Alton. Some good stuff there!
Mario Batali - Masaharu Morimoto - Cat Cora - Bobby Flay - Michael Symon - Iron Chef America - Show List A To Z - TV - Food Network

I wanted John Besh to win too!!

Docsmith · 08-07-2008, 06:00 PM

My issue wasn't that they had their own pantry items, just that some of the more odd items did imply that they knew the ingredient ahead of time. I can't give examples right now, but I used to think it was surprising they brought something without knowing ahead of time what they were cooking.

It seems my inside information is true but not really inside, so thats good to know. I'm glad its not one of those 'wink wink' type of production things. I do wish they really had to just see it for the first time and run with it, though my guess is that if they did that some very famous chefs would be very embarrassed so it won't happen

tuthead · 08-07-2008, 06:13 PM

This was true about the original show as well. They were told 3-5 possible ingredients, but never knew exactly which one it would be until they saw Chairman Kaga announce it. In fact, there were battles where the chefs said they had guessed wrong. You can usually see it in their faces when Kaga starts giving his hints before the unveiling.

I think a major difference is that ICA competitors will tell you they rehearse their dishes before the taping of the show. They have already planned everything down to the minute, so you aren't seeing any creativity on the day, just the performance of their "script." I know that some challengers on ICJ also mentioned practicing, but I think more often than not on that show, what you saw was something that was planned on the spot. Remember that they did have about 15 minutes between the time the theme was unveiled until the gong of fate actually sounded for planning.

MiseEnPlace · 08-07-2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docsmith

My issue wasn't that they had their own pantry items, just that some of the more odd items did imply that they knew the ingredient ahead of time. I can't give examples right now, but I used to think it was surprising they brought something without knowing ahead of time what they were cooking.

I use to think it was so odd that a chef (Iron or challenger) would just happen to have those "interesting" items on hand. I would be watching and say no way they had that in Kitchen Stadium. Now I know why!

I always heard the jokes the orginal was rigged.

I never watched the original Japanese show and the only reason I watch ICA, is Alton!