Answer: 1990s
'Iron Chef' premiered in October 1993 and ended in September 1999 with occasional specials being produced until 2002.
'Iron Chef' is run like a game show with a challenger pitted against an Iron Chef. Each chef has one hour to create dishes using the day's theme ingredient, which is revealed at the start of the show.
From Quiz: Whose Cuisine Reigns Supreme?
Answer: Uncle and nephew
Actually, Mark Dacascos, the actor who plays "ICA"'s Chairman, has no real-world family relation to the original Chairman, Takeshi Kaga. At the start of each battle, the Chairman utters the thrilling phrase: "And now, America, with an open heart and an empty stomach, I say unto you in the words of my uncle ..."
From Quiz: Your Very Own Iron Chefs, America
Answer: Three
Sakai and Ishinabe battled on the All French Team, Chen was with the All Chinese Team.
From Quiz: Iron Chef
Answer: Rokusaburo Michiba
Rokusaburo Michiba, aka 'the god of Japanese cuisine' was the first Iron Chef Japanese for this show known in Japan as 'Ryori no Tetsujin' (Cooking Iron Man). The show was extraordinarily popular during its 6 year run of weekly shows in Japan, which included nearly 300 episodes!
From Quiz: The Iron Chef!
Answer: Kaga Takeshi
Kaga is a big actor in Japan, having been in such shows as 'Les MIserables' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar.'
From Quiz: For the Culinary Geniuses on 'Iron Chef'
Answer: Yutaka Ishinabe
Yutaka Ishinabe began as the original Iron Chef French, nicknamed 'The Artist' for his creative ways with handling ingredients. He participated in only 8 battles, and won 7 of them. For worldwide viewers, he was only featured in 1 episode of the dubbed series, ironically it was his only loss to native French chef Jacques Borie.
He retired after this loss, mostly due to the show's stressful nature and his feeling that he was unable to reach the high standard to his dishes with the lack of time.
Hiromi Yamada was a challenger specializing in Italian cuisine, whilst Jun Kurogi and Yosuke Suga are the current Iron Chef Japanese and French respectively in the 2012 revival of 'Iron Chef'.
From Quiz: Allez Cuisine: A Complete Look at 'Iron Chef'
Answer: Capsicum
During the opening credits, Chairman Kaga takes a huge bite out of a big yellow capsicum/bell pepper. With the ensuing smirk on his face, it is hard to tell whether he is loving or hating the experience!
The premise for 'Iron Chef' is that Chairman Kaga constructed Kitchen Stadium in his castle which enabled him to realise his "dream in a form never seen before". His three Iron Chefs, leading Chairman Kaga's Gourmet Academy, would battle visiting chefs from around the world.
From Quiz: Whose Cuisine Reigns Supreme?
Answer: Go Maruyama
Go Maruyama, the first challenger in Kitchen Stadium, chose to battle Iron Chef French Yutake Ishinabe.
From Quiz: Iron Chef
Answer: Kaga
Takeshi Kaga was an actor of the Japanese stage, playing the starring role in the Japanese version of 'Jesus Christ, Superstar', for instance. The theme of the show has it that Kaga, with his Iron Chefs (the greatest in their respective culinary fields) lives in a great castle and each week he invites a new challenger to take on one of his chefs in battle. Kaga takes the show very seriously, at one time he did not appear on the show, citing the fact that his Iron Chefs had lost several battles, shaming their chairman!
From Quiz: The Iron Chef!
Answer: Kobe Masahiko
Kobe wasn't on the first four seasons because Kaga felt he was too wild and undisciplined back then!
From Quiz: For the Culinary Geniuses on 'Iron Chef'
Answer: One hour
In most episodes, a challenger chosen by the show's producers gets to select one of Kitchen Stadium's resident Iron Chefs to compete with. The participants (with the help of their sous-chefs) have sixty minutes to prepare a minimum of five dishes that make creative use of the Secret Ingredient ("... the theme ingredient on which our chefs will offer their succulent variations ...").
From Quiz: Your Very Own Iron Chefs, America
Answer: Taste
The three attributes are Taste (10 pts), Originality (5 pts), and Presentation (5 pts).
From Quiz: Iron Chef
Answer: Masahiko Kobe
Kobe dubbed himself the 'Prince of Pasta' and has a particularly cocky attitude. My wife finds him annoying as a result!
From Quiz: The Iron Chef!
Answer: Ota Shinichiro
Fukui-san is a term of respect towards the announcer.
From Quiz: For the Culinary Geniuses on 'Iron Chef'
Answer: 7
A total of seven Iron Chefs have fought in the 'Iron Chef' Kitchen Stadium:
-Chen Kenichi (Chinese);
-Yutaka Ishinabe and Hiroyuki Sakai (French);
-Masahiko Kobe (Italian);
-Rokusaburo Michiba, Koumei Nakamura and Masaharu Morimoto (Japanese).
From Quiz: Whose Cuisine Reigns Supreme?
Answer: Alton Brown and Kevin Brauch
Kevin's and Alton's duties are diverse: Alton supplies the show's introduction and conclusion, Kevin introduces the judges and explains the rules, and they both provide "play-by-play" commentary on the battle - Alton makes his comments from his station on the sidelines, while Kevin "works the floor."
All the other choices listed as possible answers are Food Network personalities.
From Quiz: Your Very Own Iron Chefs, America
Answer: If my memory serves me correctly
In Japanese, it is 'Watashi no kioku ga tashika naraba'.
From Quiz: Iron Chef
Answer: New York
Masaharu Morimoto was a controversial choice as the third Iron Chef Japanese due to the fact that his style mixes Japanese cuisine with those of other nations, and is very modern in form. His style is daring, to say the least, but his food always tantalizes!
From Quiz: The Iron Chef!
Answer: Chen Kenichi
His father is also a chef famous for his sauces.
From Quiz: For the Culinary Geniuses on 'Iron Chef'
Answer: The Delacroix of French Cuisine
Eugène Delacroix was a French Romantic movement artist. Sakai, being born with artistic talent, had some of the most intricate plating designs ever on the show. Iron Chef Sakai often employed ring molds to give his dishes definition in the finished look. When he took over Chef Ishinabe, Sakai believed he was only going to stay on for 6 months tops. He never imagined that he would keep his position for 6 years, racking up the highest number of wins with 70 wins and only 15 losses with 1 draw.
From Quiz: Allez Cuisine: A Complete Look at 'Iron Chef'
Answer: Odaiba
It was filmed in the V4 studio of Fuji TV in Odaiba.
From Quiz: Iron Chef
Answer: Bobby Flay
Morimoto defeated Bobby Flay, much to Flay's chagrin. Flay offended Morimoto by hopping onto the cooking counter following the match to pump up the audience...a big no-no in kitchen stadium! The second battle was won by Flay, though I must say I have a hard time believing that he could ever outdo Morimoto, especially with lobster.
From Quiz: The Iron Chef!
Answer: Fukui Kenji
From Quiz: For the Culinary Geniuses on 'Iron Chef'
Answer: Jeffrey Steingarten
A panel of three judges, after sampling and commenting on all the dishes presented by the Iron Chef and the challenger, determine the battle's winner. The rotating panel is made up of various food critics, authors, restaurateurs, and celebrities from outside the world of food.
Regularly introduced as the author of "The Man Who Ate Everything," Mr. Steingarten is a frequently appearing judge. His fellow judges sometimes perceive him as combative, contrary, petulant, and exasperating in general, but his honest, informed opinions and wise judgments (or perhaps it's just the audience's thirst for drama and contention) have brought him back to Kitchen Stadium time and time again.
From Quiz: Your Very Own Iron Chefs, America
Answer: Koumei Nakamura
Michiba reccomended him to the position after his retirement in January 1996.
From Quiz: Iron Chef
Answer: Chinese
The name 'Chen' should have given that one away!
From Quiz: The Iron Chef!
Answer: Ishinabe Yutake
He wore the green outfit and earned the nickname 'The Artist.'
From Quiz: For the Culinary Geniuses on 'Iron Chef'
Answer: The people's ovation and fame forever
Originally, challengers who managed to win twice against any Iron Chef were issued with the title of 'Honorary Iron Chef'. This, along with the original 'Iron Chef' format proved unpopular with audiences so winning challengers then had to be content with "the people's ovation and fame forever".
From Quiz: Whose Cuisine Reigns Supreme?
Answer: Hong Kong
Michiba, Chen, and China's best chef participate. Movie star Jackie Chan was there as a judge.
From Quiz: Iron Chef
Answer: 30 minute overtime battle
'Iron Chef' prefers an outright winner so any ties are decided by going into an immediate 30 minute overtime battle with a new theme ingredient. Only once has the overtime battle resulted in a tie, prompting the Iron Chef and challenger to both be declared winners. All overtime battles are aired as a separate 'Iron Chef' episode.
In initial episodes, winners were declared by a vote of the judges which resulted in several ties when the judging panel was expanded to four judges. Later episodes required the judges to score dishes on taste, presentation and originality thereby reducing the occurrence of ties.
From Quiz: Whose Cuisine Reigns Supreme?
Answer: 1995
Also changing from this was the introduction of the overtime battle.
From Quiz: Iron Chef
Answer: Sakai
He eventually went on to face Alan Passart. He won this battle.
From Quiz: Iron Chef
Answer: Fukui-san!
All of these are phrases from the show. When the floor commentator, Ohta, calls the head commentator, Fukui, he of course says 'Fukui-san!', meaning 'friend Fukui'. 'Watakushi no kioku ga tashika naraba!' means 'If my memory serves me correctly...', said by Kaga near the beginning of the show to introduce the challenger. 'Kyoo no tema wa kore desu!' means 'Today's theme ingredient is...', introducing the ingredient of the day that each chef must use in each dish they prepare. 'Yomigaeru Aiyan Sheffu!' means 'Be resurrected Iron Chefs!', the dramatic phrase Kaga uses to 'summon' his Iron Chefs into kitchen stadium. You have to see it to believe it!
From Quiz: The Iron Chef!
Answer: Just prior to announcing the winner
After the judges line up on stage and quick overlaid re-cap of the battle Fuki-san asks, "Who takes it? Whose cuisine reigns supreme?" With a customary tension-building pause, the winner of that particular battle is then announced with the winner receiving the 'people's ovation and fame forever'.
From Quiz: Whose Cuisine Reigns Supreme?
Answer: "I bid you good eating."
Part of the mystique, drama, and cult appeal of "ICA" lies in its (admittedly slightly cheeseball) formulaic "incantations" that are heard in every episode. Devoted fans of the show should be able to speak along with the Chairman, Alton Brown, and Kevin Brauch such lines as: "Whose cuisine reigns supreme?", "The cooking continues as the competition reaches a boiling point.", "We have been graced with the establishment of our very own Kitchen Stadium ...", "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Konbanwa. Here come the judges.", "Today, two champions met in battle [name of secret ingredient] ...", etc. etc.
Of course, the sound effects, lighting, editing, and stirring, dramatic music also contribute to the atmosphere.
From Quiz: Your Very Own Iron Chefs, America
Answer: Nine
A new Iron Chef French and Iron Chef Chinese were introduced as the 'Shin' Iron Chefs.
From Quiz: Iron Chef
Answer: Japan
The show was later redone in the United States.
From Quiz: For the Culinary Geniuses on 'Iron Chef'
Answer: Cabbage
Hiromi Yamada had a life of triumphs and trials. In the 80s, Yamada had a promising career, revolutionizing artistic plating design and his innovation of cold pasta dishes brought him to the spotlight, he lived a lavish lifestyle with fame from the media and the culinary world.
However, tragedy struck in 1991, when he crashed his car while speeding, and killed a friend and a pedestrian. He sold his $2 million home, but struggled to pay his debts, and disappeared from the spotlight. Wanting to help kickstart a comeback for him, Chairman Kaga 'dragged' him to showcase that he's still a skilled professional, and that the focus should be on his talent, not the scandal. He won the battle with a strong set of cabbage dishes.
Yamada would come back to face off again in the 2012 revival series, this time against the new Iron Chef Chinese Yuji Wakiya, with the theme of cabbage once again.
From Quiz: Allez Cuisine: A Complete Look at 'Iron Chef'
Answer: Asako Kishi
According to the '2000th Dish Special', Asako Kishi tasted over 1300+ dishes in her career, with only Chairman Kaga exceeding her. One of the toughest critics to impress, she would give somewhat frank comments about taste and balance, and hardly gave a full score to any chef. Sadly, she passed away on September 22, 2015, exactly 2 months before her 82nd birthday.
Shinichiro Kurimoto was a politician of the Lower House, who served as regular judge and tasted over 800 dishes on the show. Akebono is a former sumo Yokozuna who appeared for special battles as judge, and Kazuko Hosoki was a fortune teller who also sat at the 4th chair, and was even more critical than Kishi-san at times.
From Quiz: Allez Cuisine: A Complete Look at 'Iron Chef'
Answer: Ron Siegel
Recommended by ex-mayor Willie Brown, Ron Siegel flew from San Francisco to Tokyo to do battle with Iron Chef French Hiroyuki Sakai. He faced the pressures of the time limit, and the language barrier with his assistants despite the major advantage of theme ingredient, lobster! Sakai had two previous losses in lobster battles, and was also under pressure of his own. It would be Ron who pulled off an amazing victory over Sakai, impressing the judges with his powerful sauces and beautiful presentation, the first American chef to win on the show.
Gillian Hirst was an Australian chef who took on Koumei Nakamura in battle ostrich, and lost in a tight fight. Bruno Menard was a native French chef who lost to Sakai in an escargot battle, while Spano Stelvio was a native Italian chef who battled and lost to Chen Kenichi in the piglet battle, the only battle boycotted by Chairman Kaga due to the Iron Chefs poor win-loss record at that time.
From Quiz: Allez Cuisine: A Complete Look at 'Iron Chef'
