Next Iron Chef: All Stars

Cafe Society
1

Anne Burrell
Michael Chiarello
Elizabeth Falkner
Alex Guarnaschelli
Chuck Hughes
Robert Irvine
Beau MacMillan
Spike Mendelsohn
Marcus Samuelsson
Geoffrey Zakarian

A few thoughts:
Burrell will last longer than Irvine (as usual)
Guarnaschelli will leave early with all of her snarkiness. She wussed out of the Chopped judges competition and when she lost on Iron Chef, it was an old-fashioned ass whipping. :smiley:
Samuelsson is a top 3 competitor
Spike will be out early too. I just think his style doesn’t fit the Iron Chef format at all.
My favorite? Chef MacMillan. I have eaten at his restaurant and his flavor profile is exquisite. His miso-glazed salmon is the best salmon dish I have ever had.
Why is Madison Cowan NOT in this group? Take out Chuck and give me Madison

2

I’m actually a bit disappointed to see Samuelsson on this show. It seems kind of tacky in comparison to his skills.

3

Burrell will make Final 3.

$5 says MacMillan takes it.

4

So far MacMillan has 2 votes
Should Ferret Herder be counted as voting for Samuelsson?

5

It depends on the format…
If the format is very Iron Chef-like, Burrell has an advantage because she’s so familiar with Iron Chef.

If it’s more “reality show” then…

MacMillan didn’t understand reality shows when he was one of the “coaches” on Worst Cooks in America. Burrell and Irvine were better at it, but not great.
I think Falkner crashed and burned on some competition show because she didn’t get it either.
Guarnascheli, Samuelsson, and Zakarian have been regular judges on a competition show, which might give them some insight into how it all works.
And Spike is one of the best game players that Top Chef has ever seen.

6

Burrell for the win. She kicked ass on an episode of all star Chopped. Plus I’m reading her cookbook and it’s terrific. She’s intimately familiar with the format, has the cooking chops and is incredibly fast.

7

Oooh - go chef Anne! She’s my current chef crush.

8

Given Anne’s long time gig as a sous chef for Iron Chef Mario Batali, I think she has the advantage, but I have to root for Robert Irvine. Anne beat him on Chopped and Worst Cooks in America. I just want to see him win one. :slight_smile:

9

I think they’ll give it to a female this time. Burrell’s gotta be the favorite. She’s got the ICA experience, she is a known FN face, and really kicks ass.

If Irvine wins, I’ll never be able to watch it again.

10

I’m rooting for MacMillan, since he’s a local, but I think that Burrell could give him a challenge.

11

what the hell is Spike doing on this show?

He was a mediocre contestant in regular Top Chef

12

So we’re all set for MacMillan vs. Burrell in the finals?

13

I’m not that familiar with MacMillan, so I can posit no opinion on his performance either way. But I feel pretty safe in saying that Chef Anne’s the one to beat in this thing, though Samuelsson will certainly be no slouch either.

And I really hope Guarnaschelli gets her self-satisfied ass handed to her but good.

14

I agree that Anne will be in the finals, but I would not rule out Chuck. He beat Bobby Flay. I love Chuck. I can not wait for this show to start.