nextironchefI’m sure this is the question that’s going on in a lot of people’s heads that are watching the Food Network show, “The Next Iron Chef“. What started out as 10 has now been trimmed down to 2 finalists. It’s been a grueling and long journey for all of them, and for those who have finally come to Kitchen Stadium to battle it out, and cook the best meal they’ve ever cooked, I applaud you. Well…not really.

Here’s where I say there are spoilers and if you are watching the show on DVR or whatever, this is the point to turn back. The rest of this article after the bump.

Ok, first of all, if I had to choose just by personality alone, who should win it would easily be Chef Garces. seriously. Because Chef Mehta may be an extraordinary chef, but his attitude is really not that of a true Iron Chef. I mean come on, in this last episode, he said something to the effect of  “I don’t care if anyone likes me”, which to me is a very poor attitude. He’s constantly sabotaging other chefs, and making the most outrageous layouts for his dishes. While this may be seen as “creative” or “artistic”, there’s really nothing artistic about his layout when you’re eating his dishes and thinking, “where is the food?” seriously? He really needs to tone down on that. He also needs to listen to the judges. Almost every time, he has been told to tone down his sweetness in the dishes. But has he done it? Nope. Has he grown at all in the entire competition? In some ways, maybe, but really, I don’t think he’s learned anything.

When Chef Freitag was eliminated from the competition, I thought that was it. That was the end of this competition. Honestly, Chef Garces was the only other chef I thought worthy of the title of Iron Chef. Well, perhaps chef Mullen. He really did a great job, but in the episode that eliminated him, I think he really shouldn’t have made that rice. Apprentices in Japan spend somewhere from 3 to 5 years just cooking rice. It’s really a very serious thing. I’ve been cooking rice for almost 20 years, and I have to say I have yet to make the perfect bowl of rice.

Now I’m really looking forward to what Chef Garces will make for the finale of Next Iron Chef. As for Chef Mehta? I really don’t care. It will probably be something outrageous and ridiculous to look at. It may look pretty, but will it really be any good? I suspect that Chef Mehta will probably win the competition only because he’s a “bad boy” chef and they probably want that for ratings.

If he does win? Then I’m no longer watching Iron Chef America. Or maybe even Food Network for that matter. It’s just a shame. Chairman Kaga from the original Iron Chef would be ashamed to have him as an Iron Chef I think.

Oh and a message for Chef Freitag: I’m sorry you didn’t win, I really wanted you to win. But think of this way. Now you can really grind those chefs on Choppped. Hehe.