Alton Brown Hosts Return of IRON CHEF GAUNTLET on Food Network 4/16

The elite culinary skill, strategy and stamina of IRON CHEF AMERICA returns to Food Network this spring with IRON CHEF GAUNTLET, a fresh reboot of the fan-favorite franchise hosted by the incomparable Alton Brown. The six-episode primetime event begins with seven extraordinary chefs competing for the chance to become an Iron Chef - each week one will rise and one will fall until a single chef is left standing, but in order to gain entry into this ultimate culinary society, one gladiator must win the Gauntlet - three rapid-succession battles, each against one legendary Iron Chef: Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto or Michael Symon. Iron Chef Gauntlet premieres Sunday, April 16th at 9pm (all times ET/PT), preceded by the one-hour special The Legend of Iron Chef at 8pm, which celebrates historic moments, and followed by the series premiere of Iron Chef Eatsat 10pm, where familiar faces from Iron Chef reveal their favorite food spots from around the country. Online, a digital companion series rolls out simultaneously with new episodes, offering fans culinary inspiration, along with tips and tricks that home cooks can use in their own kitchens.

"In the world of Iron Chef, competitive cooking goes beyond impeccable skills - these chefs view food as both fine art and vigorous sport," said Didi O'Hearn, Senior Vice President Programming, Food Network and Cooking Channel. "The Iron Chef Gauntlet finalist will go up against three culinary legends - and our audience is sure to be on the edge of their seat to find out if he or she has what it takes to join their ranks."

Iron Chef Gauntlet competitors are: Nyesha Arrington (Los Angeles, California - Executive Chef/Owner, Leona); Jason Dady (San Antonio, Texas - Executive Chef/Owner, Tre Trattoria); Sarah Grueneberg (Chicago, Illinois - Executive Chef/Owner, Monteverde); Michael Gulotta (New Orleans, Louisiana - Executive Chef/Owner MOPHO); Stephanie Izard (Chicago, Illinois - Executive Chef/Owner Girl & the Goat); Shota Nakajima (Seattle, Washington - Executive Chef/Owner, Adana) and Jonathon Sawyer (Cleveland, Ohio - Executive Chef/Owner, The Greenhouse Tavern).

In the first five Iron Chef Gauntlet episodes, the competitors endure two grueling rounds of cooking starting with the Chairman's Challenge where host Alton Brown delivers a themed challenge and is the sole decision maker on the most and least successful chef. The winner then selects a competitor to join the bottom chef in the Secret Ingredient Challenge, where they must cook three dishes featuring the secret ingredient presented on the altar. A panel of rotating judges send the least successful chef home each week, while THE WINNER IS sent back to battle. In the finale on Sunday, May 21st at 9pm, the last chef standing has the Iron Chef title in reach - but first, the chef must run the Gauntlet - three rapid-succession Secret Ingredient battles, each against one legendary Iron Chef: Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto or Michael Symon. Only if the finalist receives more points than the Iron Chefs combined will history be made, joining the coveted ranks of Iron Chefs, otherwise they will leave THE KITCHEN in utter defeat.

In the premiere episode, Alton welcomes the seven chefs and presents the first Chairman's Challenge ingredients: an array of wild ingredients. The chefs must use their expert technique to make a top-tier dish right out of the gate. Alton determines the most and least successful dishes, and the bottom-rated chef is thrown into the deep end for a Secret Ingredient Showdown against a competitor chosen by the winner. Three culinary interpretations of the secret ingredient are presented from both chefs to judges Donatella Arpaia and Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and one competitor is sent home. Upcoming guest judges include Iron Chefs Cat Cora, Marc Forgione, Jose Garces and Alex Guarnaschelli, and food experts Ali Bouzari, Anne Burrell, Giada De Laurentiis, Anya Fernald, Ching-He Huang and Ludo Lefebvre.

A new digital experience debuts with the Iron Chef Gauntlet premiere at FoodNetwork.com/IronChefGauntlet where fans can join Alton for a look behind-the-scenes, meet the challengers and check out the array of tools the chefs bring to battle. Plus, Iron Chefs share their best memories of battling in Kitchen Stadium. Join the conversation on social media and watch for exclusive content with the hashtag #IronChefGauntlet.

Iron Chef Gauntlet is produced by Triage Entertainment in conjunction with Food Network and is based on the format Iron Chef owned by Fuji Television Network, Inc. Iron Chef Eats is produced by Irene Wong Productions.

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