The Impact of Iron Chef

As a kid that was blessed with cable television, I wasted my summer days flipping channels whenever Blue’s Clues or Dora was on. I outgrew those shows, and boastfully answer their trivias and questions in a split second. Then, I stumbled upon this treasure trove of a show.

Iron Chef or Ryōri no Tetsujin, was an old television show in the early 1990s. If you are familiar with the cooking anime show Shokugeki No Soma, I'm pretty sure that they got their ideas of shokugekis from this show. This was a showdown between a skilled guest challenger and an Iron Chef of their choice.

Their battle is set in a kitchen stadium, and it is centered around one key ingredient chosen by Chairman Kaga, the host and creator of the show. They would have to use that key ingredient in all of their dishes.

They will then be judged by various judges of different culinary backgrounds, as well as a celebrity judge. It was crazy and over the top at times, but it was also beautiful and elegant as well.

Chairman Kaga would always wear some sort of regal outfit and would always do grand gestures when introducing the challenger and the key ingredient.

The kitchen stadium was a hallowed hall for chefs who are competing for eternal glory. With all of its theatrics , it was captivating for my young heart.

The premise of beating renowned chefs with their own specialties, costumes, and personalities somehow reminded me of Pokemon Gym Leaders for some reason. They would emerge from the bottom of the kitchen stadium, and would stand tall with their signature poses. The Iron Chef French cuisine would always hold a pear every time he would appear.

I remember there was Iron Chef who would pull out some paper and paint brush at the beginning of the showdown to write his menu! The way he brushed his strokes while holding his sleeve, and the calligraphy was just poetry in motion that really resembles his cooking.

There was also Iron Chef Chen Kenichi who had his own special move where he would stand on top of two bowls, one for each foot, and then begin to mince and chop meat with two cleavers. It was so mesmerizing to watch.

I really don't know why I was hooked on this show. Maybe I was bored of cartoons. Maybe it awakened something in me. Maybe it was the artistry and spectacle. Maybe it was the cooking techniques paired with culinary showmanship. Maybe it was the story embedded in fiery cooking poetry. I don't know. But I'm glad I did.