While my sisters and I did watch our fair share of Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and even Animax shows growing up, there is one channel that we usually start our days with and cruise through our afternoons with as well. It’s none other than Food Network.
We all loved watching cooking shows growing up and, for me in particular, that love has extended to cooking competitions, even now that I’m in my late 20s. One of the cooking shows that I’ve always loved is Iron Chef.
I first started watching the original Iron Chef, meaning the Japanese TV series. Eventually, the concept found its way to the US and Iron Chef America was born. I watched that too, though I will always prefer the original one more.
As the years went by and Iron Chef disappeared from TV screens, I thought it’s going to be one of those shows that will just remind me of my childhood. To my delight (as well as the delight of the show’s countless fans), Iron Chef is back and this time, it’s on Netflix.
The Nostalgia That Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend Brings
Much about the new Iron Chef show, which is titled Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, has stayed the same as it was when the original Iron Chef debuted in 1993. It’s still a cook-off where a guest chef challenges someone from the roster of Iron Chefs. There’s still a secret ingredient that both chefs have to feature in every dish they make.
And yes, for the fans of Iron Chef America out there, Alton Brown returns to host the show with his food trivia and humor in tow.
The Chairman also makes his return and, well, by now we should all already know that he really isn’t the nephew of the chairman in the Japanese TV show. In fact, the American chairman (Mark Dacascos) and his Japanese counterpart (Takeshi Kaga) are both actors.
A Different Concept for Both Its Old and New Audience
Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend is regarded as a reboot of the series and with it comes some changes that may surprise the fans of the previous shows.
For starters, Alton Brown has a co-host and it’s none other than Kristen Kish, who is probably best known as the winner of the 10th season of another cooking show, Top Chef.
There is also a new set of Iron Chefs so yes, that means we will no longer see Bobby Flay or controversial chef Mario Batali. Instead, we are introduced to Curtis Stone, Dominique Crenn, Gabriela Camara, Marcus Samuelsson, and Ming Tsai.
The show’s title is also longer for a reason. The highest scoring challenger gets to come back to the show for a second time to challenge all five Iron Chefs. Should the challenger win, he or she becomes an Iron Legend.
Something Old, Something New
The new Iron Chef show is as familiar as it is also new in some ways. It’s one that old fans will still appreciate while reeling in new, younger fans who might not have heard of Iron Chef before.
And when you’re so used to cooking shows that feature hosts cursing or insulting contestants, players sabotaging one another, and other drama-filled antics, Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend proves to be a breath of fresh air.
You can watch Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend on Netflix.
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