village voice > news > Iron Chef Boyardee by Robert Sietsema

Shopz on Thu Mar 20, 2008, 09:16, says:

There are so many errors in this article, it's staggering. Village Voice's editorial department sure has gone down the crapper. Hope your "E&O" insurance is paid up.

amy on Fri Mar 14, 2008, 15:35, says:

Although I agree w/ the other commentators and I realize this was not ground-breaking news, I thought it still was a good read. Maybe I'm more cynical because I have grown to dispise the food Network and what it now stands for. I think Iron Chef has majorly sucked recently - Mario isn't really on anymore since they pulled his show off the air. Marimoto really only did one show per season, Bobby Flay is ok, and don't even get me started on cat cora. i can not even believe that is the only woman they found to be an 'iron chef'... i just don't think she's good. In a way, i think i enjoyed your article b/c I just think the show is slipping and not even close to (as commentor john put) as 'kitchy' as the Japanese original was. That made it FUN. Jeffrey Steingarten's commentary when he's a judge is really the only thing that's great about the show/network anymore! - amy (http://www.weareneverfull.com

Andrew on Wed Mar 12, 2008, 11:26, says:

Robert, this is ridiculous on several counts but here goes:

1. It was already known that the secret ingredient was known at least up to 5 days in advance. There are several potential secret ingredients and thus the chefs can plan for each one. They provide a shopping list to the company who then tells them what they bought. This should essentially give a clue as to what the ingredient is.

2. Did you really think four (now five) chefs are going to arrive and just stand there to be picked? Obviously, the challenger knows who they want to pick (at least in the old days, the "chairman" chose it but it was still known). You thinking otherwise is kind of naive.

3. On the TV show, they only ever prepare ONE serving of their five dishes. They have to feed 4 people - it makes sense to me that they would have to do others afterwards.

4. Yes, the cameras will make it more exciting as do all of the effects. Think about it - the show doesn't really last an hour on TV- it's only about 30 minutes of cooking if that.

If you want a "real" challenge, consider hosting one yourself and do it your way. The Iron Chef approach has been obvious for many years - it doesn't take away from the great fun it brings.

Sue on Sun Mar 2, 2008, 14:46, says:

Wow, you have alot of antagonistic readers. Maybe we already knew a lot of that stuff about the Iron Chef, but it's still interesting to read about it from someone who was actually there. Kind of like what the point of journalism is in the first place...

I often learn something from your writing, which is more than I can say for those nitwit comments.

And I would love to read an inside report on magic OR (to a lesser degree) wrestling...

Maia on Fri Feb 29, 2008, 14:28, says:

Whats REALLY shocking is that 26 of your morons not only took the time to read an article that you thought was "a complete waste of time" but also to write long comments on how stupid you thought it was!

Get a life.

When was the last time the press covered something we DIDN'T know?

And props to Robert for writing an amusing article on the ridiculousness of reality t.v.

LOL on Fri Feb 29, 2008, 13:57, says:

I was going to write some sardonic comment imploring the author, in his next investigative expose, to explore the deceit that occurs in professional wrestling and magic shows, but the other comments have clearly gotten that message across.

That one gurl on Fri Feb 29, 2008, 13:16, says:

Remember, television is like sausage. If you want to enjoy it, don't watch it being made.

ringrunner@gmail.com on Wed Feb 27, 2008, 21:21, says:

I hope this article starts a congressional investigation

clogette on Mon Feb 25, 2008, 19:38, says:

This should be titled: Robert Sietsema opens a can of worms - revealing that he is the Village Idot.

Robert, whether you were aware of the ruse or not, the fact that you wasted time writing about it is - how can I say this eloquently - retarded. And so are your bosses for allowing such drivel to go to print. Way to go, Village Voice! Big pat on the back.

matelot on Sun Feb 24, 2008, 02:30, says:

Those who bitched and moaned about the article and how obvious that the show is staged ...y'all a bunch of bloody morons !

wow so this stupid show is as fake as p0rn eh...I don't think I will ever want to watch it again.

Thanks, nice article...good to know.

nulldevice on Sat Feb 23, 2008, 13:10, says:

While I'm sure this info may be surprising to at least one person (the author), it isn't to anyone who's known much about the show in either its american or japanese formats. Hell, in the japanese version they didn't even bother with stand-ins, they just used the same film loops and some camera work to make it look like they were all there. Lists of potential ingredients were supplied to contestants weeks in advance. This is hardly news, nor does it seem especially surprising.

Oh, and you know what else is true? The contest is somewhat biased towards the iron chefs! I know! Crazy, huh?

I think the only main difference now is that they only prepare the one set of dishes instead of the full judging meals for the cameras. I think this has to do with the fact that on the japanese versions, there was usually such a delay between the finish of shooting, the food photography, and the actual judging, that the meals got cold, ice creams melted, raw fish went south, etc. It kind of only makes sense that they'd re-prepare the judging meals later at a more leisurely pace - nobody wants the judges to get salmonella from sashimi that's been sitting under studio lights for an hour.

C'mon, does this really surprise anyone?

chef flavor on Sat Feb 23, 2008, 13:00, says:

Even if I know the ingredient is 'shrimp', it's not a cake walk to make 5 dishes in an hour. Are you related to the better critic Tom?

ICANBEAFOODCRITIC2 on Sat Feb 23, 2008, 07:22, says:

You are an idiot. Complete waste of time. Interesting to read your take and perspective on the shooting of the show; however worthless it was. A not for nothin', but you're a food critic for the Village Voice? WTF can you possibly know? I'm sure your editor is happy that you at least turned your homework in on time - no matter how dull it is.

meatball machine on Sat Feb 23, 2008, 01:19, says:

What's really shocking here is 1) the fact that any media correspondent can be truly surprised by the lengths to which any media outlet will go to create entertaining media and 2) the fact that someone who calls himself a food writer doesn't know the first thing about professional cooking. As a real life chef, I'll tell you that it's always a challenge to prepare even one single dish for any panel of judges, whether it's within one hour or one week!

jbels on Fri Feb 22, 2008, 14:32, says:

I know you had to be making some of this up because you referred to Alton Brown as well-spoken. Next time you watch Iron Chef America, take a sip of an alcoholic beverage every time he says "uh". It's the best TV drinking game since "Oh Bob" from The Bob Newhart Show.

Amy on Fri Feb 22, 2008, 12:51, says:

My father took me to see a live taping of American Gladiators (the first instantiation). I was incredibly disappointed at how slow and tedious the whole thing was, what with the changing of the sets, and costumes, etc. My love for American Gladiators was crushed that day, and I learned never to trust TV again.

Mr. Pendleton on Fri Feb 22, 2008, 04:15, says:

Dumb Asssss!

Look fool. This is a cooking show and not some American Attempt of Samurai Culinary Artistry- It is yet another style to catch or hold the observers attention and present them with a possible new style or technique of cooking BUT, more importantly, it will expose you to new kitchen Aid or cooking items that will definitely ease your daily grind in the kitchen as you prepare your daily exquisite meals for your starving family! LOOK MAN, IT IS A SHOW! Really.

Leslie on Thu Feb 21, 2008, 20:48, says:

To the writer of this shocking story: Robert Sietsema, YOU ARE AN IDIOT FOR NOT KNOWING THAT REALITY TV IS ALL STAGED!!! YOUR STORY SUCKED!!!

Emily on Thu Feb 21, 2008, 16:48, says:

I'm sorry but what about this "expose" is shocking? Anyone who watches the show can tell that the chefs know the ingredient and who they're going to battle beforehand. It also seems fairly obvious that they remake the dishes for the judges. Who actually thinks Iron Chef is real? Its just a highly entertaining cooking show. The author is quite stupid if he was expecting something other than what he got.

bb on Thu Feb 21, 2008, 14:42, says:

in the dept of more interesting yet useless Iron Chef facts: the original Chairman previously played the role of Christ in the Original Japanese cast of Jesus Christ Superstar (and his voice appears on the corresponding Sony Japan release of the soundtrack).

Everything on TV is Fake. on Thu Feb 21, 2008, 14:38, says:

Anyone with decent eyesight and minimal observation skills could figure out that Iron Chef like all "reality shows" is planned in advance. Secret Ingredient: not a secret at all. 5 spontaneous dishes: Created and tested in advance. Winner: Probably decided before the "challenger" even steps foot into kitchen stadium. I've seen plenty of episodes in which the chefs obviously enjoyed the challenger's taste/plating/creativity more than the Iron Chef and the Iron Chef still won. The show is a way to hype up food network stars and to give media exposure to up and coming/gaining-fame-in-the-food-business chefs. This article was lazy journalism. If you feel the need to do an expose, reality TV is not really the best topic to write about.

Joe on Thu Feb 21, 2008, 11:35, says:

Wow, big surprise, an array of bitter, "I do please myself with my wit and superior knowledge" comments. I thought this was an entertaining article. That they knew about the ingredient beforehand was obvious to me, but if the recipes are being recooked (esp. WITHOUT THE CHEF), that completely defeats the supposed competitive aspect of the show. I guess the winners are irrelevant.

P.S. Hey Ted Allen, one Simon Cowell is far more than enough.

John on Thu Feb 21, 2008, 02:24, says:

The only thing missing in the American version is the bad dubbing and the crazy secret ingredients (e.g. octopus) that made the Japanese version the kitsch, secret pleasure that it was.

This article is silly in its expose tone. The Village Voice stewardship has ruined my local Orange County Weekly, and if it weren't for Michael Musto, who can be truly funny, I wouldn't give VV a look.

Clueless!

P.S. who does Ted Allen know?

To the investigative "journalist on Thu Feb 21, 2008, 01:13, says:

I recommend that you check the Food Network Archives next time before your next grand "exposé." I remember watching a special- something like "Behind the Iron Chef" on Food Network that describes explicitly how the show runs (ie the extra time before starting to cook, etc.)

Shelley on Wed Feb 20, 2008, 22:16, says:

Are you supposed to be a journalist? None of this is news, as others have pointed out. If you were really worth your salt, you'd have known this before getting your exalted bottle of Fiji water. Hope your boss reads this and thinks about sending you back to the obituaries...

Isela on Wed Feb 20, 2008, 19:07, says:

The Food Network itself showed all of this in detail when it did an Unwrapped episode on the Food Network and Iron Chef in particular. It disclosed every single thing in this article. So why exactly is any of this supposed to be suprising when they did an entire show about the behind the scenes aspects?

east-villager on Wed Feb 20, 2008, 17:54, says:

And I suppose you're going to tell me that the Kitchen Stadium is not actually in a remote mountaintop? And that the Chairman isn't actually a chairman? Talk about ace investigative reporting - you exposed a TV show as a...TV show! Somebody get this man a Pulitzer!

Cookie on Wed Feb 20, 2008, 16:38, says:

Pssst. There's no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny, either.

no surprise on Wed Feb 20, 2008, 16:24, says:

i agree with the other commenter that almost none of this is a surprise, or should be a surprise to anyone who knows anything about tv. (though maybe it's because i attended the batali/dufresne battle back in '05.)They knew the secret ingredients on the Japanese show too. i left before the judging of that so i wasn't aware they recooked dishes. that does seem wrong. the only thing impressive of the whole shebang was alton brown who made most of his comments off-the-cuff and and obviously knew more about the food than anyone else in the studio (apart from maybe the chefs.)

Ted Allen on Wed Feb 20, 2008, 16:23, says:

Oh, Robert. Did you forget to have your Cheerios before you went to a 5-hour taping in which culinary masters cook near-perfect delicacies in front of you? Always a mistake. Smelling those smells is torture for the audience and crew.

I'll just make two points in response to your very, very, very (waking self up, now--oh, hello!) long article:

One, "Iron Chef America" is a television show. A television show is generally something that is produced for the purpose of broadcasting it via the medium of television, with the goal being to entertain people who watch, you know, television. Kudos for your crack investigative skills in outing Mark as not *really* the Chairman's nephew. You're a real Woodward and Bernstein, ain'tcha?

And Two, Morimoto prevailed because his food was incredible, as it usually is. Fortunato Nicotra did a magnificent job, too; he is a spectacular chef and a delightful guy, and scoring 51 to 59 is hardly a rout. I ate his food again at Felidia last month, and I'm still talking about his shrimp crudo on a slab of pink salt. But for a variety of reasons, many of which were discussed during our tasting, we judges, independently and of our own, honest accord, preferred Morimoto's work that day. That's the way the kanpachi crumbles.

dkstar1 on Wed Feb 20, 2008, 15:15, says:

not sure any of this is really new information. Iron Chef has been the foodie equivalent of WWF wrestling for years. Didn't the Amateur Gourmet reveal this info like 2 years ago? Also, Felidia was awarded 3 stars in August of 2006 - not sure if that qualifies as being "recently" awarded them. But I digress...