The BEST episodes of Iron Chef season 1
Every episode of Iron Chef season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Iron Chef season 1!
Iron Chef is an innovative cooking competition from Japan. Originally produced by Fuji TV, Iron Chef combined the excitement of a one on one sports competition with gourmet cooking. The title Iron Chefcomes from the original Japanese title, Ironmen of Cooking. This innovative game show was always popular in its native Japan, but it found international success when the Food Network bought the series and began airing English dubbed episodes. It became a cult classic as viewers were treated to exotic ingredients and innovative cooking techniques. No expense was spared. Chefs seemed to have almost limitless supplies of the most exotic and expensive gourmet ingredients. The competition is hosted by Chairman Kaga, an over-the-top master of ceremonies. He introduced a "secret ingredient" that the challenger and the chosen Iron Chef had to incorporate into every dish. Originally, the program was 30 minutes long, but it was soon expanded to an hour format. Each chef presented his/her dishes to a panel of 3-4 judges who rated the dishes to crown a winner. All of the competitions occurred in a specially designed "kitchen stadium". The New York Times once described Iron Chef as "kamikaze cooking". Iron Chefs and their competitors became celebrities in their own right. Storylines developed between groups determined to defeat the Iron Chefs. The show was so successful in English speaking countries that several spin-offs, specials, and updated versions were produced.
#1 - Ishinabe vs Oyama Eizo (Banana)
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/12/1993
Christmas time is approaching and Chairman Kaga is looking forward to all the special desserts. He holds the first dessert battle in Kitchen Stadium.
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#2 - Chen vs Indoragori Paulo (Blow fish)
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/31/1993
The preliminary battle is a matchup of Spaghetti. Half of the challengers seem to be non-chefs this time. And the eventual winner is an Italian chef. This episode features the debut of Iron Chef Chinese Chen Kenichi. The theme will be Fugu. Given the specialized skill needed to properly prepare Fugu, Kitchen Stadium provides trained Fugu experts to cut the fish apart for the chefs. (It should be noted that the Chairman Kaga character will eventually be "killed" by improperly prepared fugu.)
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#3 - Michiba vs Syu Tomitoku (Crab)
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/5/1993
The challenger's brother was defeated by Michiba less than one month earlier. Now, Shu Tomitoku comes to challenge the Iron Chef. The Chairman says, "Michiba beat your younger brother. And now, who do you want to fight?" With his younger brother Shu Tomiteru urging him on, Shu Tomitoku chooses Rokusaburo Michiba.
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#4 - Michiba vs Kobayakawa Yousei (Foie Gras)
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/17/1993
The theme of the preliminary battle is Omurice. The main battle features Yousei Kobayakawa vs Rokusaburo Michiba. How will a traditional Japanese chef like Michiba handle a very non-Japanese ingredient? Like a master. Even though it is his debut battle, look for the Michiba staples: the written menu and his Inochi no Dashi (aka Broth of Vigor).
#6 - Ishinabe vs Jacques Borie (Chicken)
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/19/1993
A special battle for Christmas. The challenger is a winner of the prestigious MOF award in France. The Iron Chef is the first Iron Chef French, Yutaka Ishinabe. This is the only Ishinabe episode, and the only episode from the first year broadcast on Food Network. Judges: Yasuo Tanaka (Novelist), Mai Kitajima (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)
#7 - Michiba vs Syu Tomiteru (Lobster)
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/14/1993
Chairman Kaga talks about Yi Yin, a 16th century BC Chinese cook to whom the idea of the five tastes is generally attributed. The theme for the preliminary battles is Harumaki (Spring Roll). The Kaga speech about spring rolls ends with "Glass Skin" (perhaps referring to the lightness of the outer skin of properly prepared harumaki.) The final battle will take place between Shu Tomiteru (younger brother of the famed Shu Tomitoku) and Iron Chef Michiba.
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#8 - Chen VS Tei Kazuhiko (Octopus)
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/21/1993
For the first time, we do not have a preliminary battle. This episode is the first that really looks like an episode of what we now recognize as Ryouri no Tetsujin (complete with pre-battle video piece on the challenger). And of course, we have the challenger (in black and white) looking at the camera and saying "I'll win". It's an all Chinese cuisine battle as the challenger takes on Iron Chef Chinese Chen Kenichi.
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#9 - Chen vs Kudo Toshiyuki (Tofu)
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/7/1993
The preliminary battle in this episode has a theme of Korokke (Croquette). Among the challengers is a 17 year-old student and a chef from Sakai's La Rochelle. The final is a French on French match-up. The theme is not a French theme, however, as the Chairman unveils Tofu. Ishinabe can only laugh while the challenger has a look of trepidation on his face.
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#10 - Ishinabe vs Muto Masato (Daikon Radish)
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/28/1993
Ishinabe takes on challenger Muto Masato in a Daikon battle.