The BEST episodes of Iron Chef season 4

#1 - France Special Part 2: Sakai vs Pierre Gagnaire (Homard Lobster)

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/12/1996

Chairman Takeshi Kaga travels to battle the great chefs of France - witness as Iron Chef French #2 (Hiroyuki Sakai) and Iron Chef Japanese #2 (Koumei Nakamura) battle to defend the honor of Iron Chef and the Gourmet Academy. For the second battle, Iron Chef French Sakai and famed French chef Pierre Gagnaire are given a unique challenge. They have 24 hours to obtain authentic French ingredients, then return to the French castle site to hold the actual battle.

#2 - Sakai vs Hidetoshi Ushimaru (Curry Powder)

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/19/1996

While the search continues for a new Iron Chef Japanese, Iron Chef French Sakai accepts the challenge of a rising French-trained chef making a name in hotel dining: head chef of the Terrace at the Westin Tokyo. Wanting to spice up the battle, Chairman Kaga presents them with a challenging theme: curry powder accompanied by five other spices for variety.

#3 - Nakamura vs Kiyoshi Suzuki (Foie Gras)

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/1/1996

After two months, retired Iron Chef Michiba presents Chairman Kaga with his successor: Komei Nakamura, an imposing chef from a prestigious formal Japanese restaurant who both keeps a traditional base and fearlessly seeks out new ideas. For his inaugural battle, he faces two challenges: the owner of Auberge de Suzuki in Seijo, one of the chefs of Club des Trentes; and the theme of Foie Gras, the same ingredient Michiba faced in his debut match three years ago.

#4 - France Special Part 1: Nakamura vs Bernard Leprince (Salmon)

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/5/1996

Chairman Takeshi Kaga travels to battle the great chefs of France - witness as Iron Chef French #2 (Hiroyuki Sakai) and Iron Chef Japanese #2 (Koumei Nakamura) battle to defend the honor of Iron Chef and the Gourmet Academy. For the first battle, Iron Chef Japanese Nakamura battles one of the great French on location at a French castle. For a twist, the chefs are not told of the theme ingredient immediately but must first travel to the castle's courtyard to retrieve it.

#5 - Chen vs Gotoh Ichio (Cuttlefish)

Season 4 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/31/1996

Today's challenger is French-influenced Italian chef of such renown that anywhere he cooks, you'll find lines running out the door.

#6 - Nakamura vs Kenji Motai (Udon)

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/24/1996

The challenger is the chief instructor of culinary skills at Hattori Nutrition College and was recommended by Dr. Hattori to be the new Iron Chef Japanese after Michiba retired. Because of the theme involved, the Noodle Rule is invoked for this battle. The Iron Chef must retire from the kitchen after 50 minutes as the challenger completes his dishes and presents to the judges first. As that occurs, the Iron Chef returns to complete his final ten minutes of preparation just before presenting to the judges.

#7 - Sakai vs Tamotsu Takao (Abalone)

Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/17/1996

Mikasa-kaikan is one of the oldest and most respected French restaurants in Japan. Today's challenger is head chef of its coastal Kuganuma branch and the last direct disciple of the restaurant's late founding Grand Chef.

#8 - Chen vs Shunji Morikawa (Pineapple)

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/10/1996

Morikawa's restaurant, Cay, is said to have pioneered Thai food in Japan. His patrons include Stephen Hawking and Yoko Ono. Can Chen beat him at his own game?

#9 - Nakamura vs Katsuko Nanao (Cod Roe)

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/3/1996

Chairman Kaga welcomes a woman who opened a restaurant that specializes in home-style Japanese cuisine and presents for the battle a common, everyday ingredient that fits in her style.

#10 - Chen vs He Yewen (Lettuce)

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/26/1996

The new chef of Akasaka Rikyu demonstrates his distinctive Hong Kong cooking skills.

#11 - Nakamura vs Toyoaki Suganuma (Egg)

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/19/1996

#12 - Chen vs Gao Jinyi (Dried Abalone)

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/12/1996

For the first battle of the year, Chairman Kaga accepts the challenge of the head chef of the famed Grand Hotel in Taiwan. It is an all-Chinese affair with Iron Chef Chen chosen in advance to answer the challenge, on his 40th birthday no less, and no expense is spared as they are given dried abalone: a luxurious ingredient well-suited to Chinese cuisine.

#13 - Chen vs Hiroshi Yamanobe (Scorpionfish)

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/26/1996

The challenger is the head chef at a beachside restaurant. Chairman Kaga calls him the Conjuror of Seafood. He does not think he will lose to an Iron Chef. Is he right?

#14 - Nakamura vs Lin Kunbi (Bell Pepper)

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/22/1996

Lin Kunbi battled Iron Chef Michiba to the first-ever Overtime Battle before losing. He's back for revenge, this time against Michiba's successor Komei Nakamura.

#15 - Mr Iron Chef 1995: Chen vs Michiba (Beef) Part 1

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/3/1996

#16 - Mr Iron Chef 1995: Chen vs Michiba (Beef) Part 2

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/3/1996

#17 - Chen vs Takaya Nakazawa (Shiitake Mushroom)

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/23/1996

Inspired by the chili sauce made famous by Chen Kenmin, this challenger began a quest to create a sauce able to surpass it, and after over 30 years he has created numerous new Chinese sauces along the way. Now he wishes to put his expertise to the test against Kenmin's son, Iron Chef Chinese Chen Kenichi.

#18 - Chen vs Tatsujiro Yoshida (Cod)

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/8/1996

The Iron Chef Chinese takes on the challenge of the head chef of the Hokuriku Plaza Hotel, a traditionalist chef who came to love the Hokuriku area and its abundance of seafood. Their seafood skills will be put to the test when presented with four large cod.

#19 - Chen vs Katsuaki Mori (Spinach)

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/29/1996

Chen's opponent has been knighted in France as the Cavalier of Cheese, and is an expert in salad. Can he prevail?

#20 - Sakai vs Senji Osada (Scallop)

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/15/1996

Today's challenger has become Japan's premiere culinary authority in the French technique of "vacuum cooking" (sous vide).

#21 - Sakai vs Jinichi Tateyama (Leek)

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/16/1996

As the Chairman seeks out a new Iron Chef Japanese, Toshiro Kandagawa boasts he can offer a challenger that could replace Iron Chef French.

#22 - Sakai vs Tadashi Yanagi (Pear & Chocolate)

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/9/1996

St. Valentine's Day chocolate-and-pear dessert battle

#23 - Beijing Special: Chen vs Son-So (Chicken)

Season 4 - Episode 41 - Aired 10/11/1996

Features chefs from each region with a battle between Son vs. Chen.

#24 - Sakai vs So Choumei (Softcrab)

Season 4 - Episode 38 - Aired 9/13/1996

#25 - Nakamura vs Endo Tokuo (Mackerel Pike)

Season 4 - Episode 39 - Aired 9/20/1996