The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs

                     I watched the first three seasons of The Next Iron Chef, but the Super Chef season is the one I am most excited about.  Most of the competitors are chefs I have seen on their own cooking shows or in other cooking competitions.  While all these people have proved themselves in the culinary world, there is something about Iron Chef that ramps everything up.  I am curious to see what each one will pull out in order to earn the title of Iron Chef.      

                This season things are run a little differently.  Usually there is a small challenge and then the elimination challenge.  The Super Chefs have a different set-up.  There are still two challenges per episode.  The first has everyone competing.  A winner is declared and the bottom two must face off in the second challenge.  This second one is where it is determined who will stay and who will go home.  While the first part is intense and serious, the second one is even worse.  Everything is on the line and the slightest thing can get a person eliminated.  It also does not help that the other contestants sit on the other side of the cooking counters and watch.  They throw in comments, gasps, and other noises that could probably make someone even more anxious than they already are. 

                There are only ten contestants, so this series is not going to be very long.  I had a hard time with the first episode as I liked both of the chefs in the elimination challenge.  The result made me very happy, but I was sad to see the other one go.  I would not be surprised if the mixed feelings happen again in the future.  Despite this, I look forward to each and every episode.  I always want to see what they are going to do next.  Although I can do without seeing another pig butchered.  That was not pleasant.