Meet your new Iron Chef: Jose Garces

The finale of "The Next Iron Chef" was a battle of the tried-and-true versus the edgy.

It was also a battle between Philadelphia-based chef Jose Garces' Latin cooking and New York-based chef Jehangir Mehta's Indian flare.

And, at times, it was a showdown between the cantankerous food writer Jeffrey Steingarden and Iron Chef Michael Symon. Click here to read more about how chef Jose Garces was crowned "The Next Iron Chef."

The title means that Garces joins the stable of chefs  -- including Symon, Bobby Flay and Mario Batali --  "worthy" of defending their title in Kitchen Stadium on the Food Network culinary competition "Iron Chef."

But it's also a ticket to fame and, most likely, fortune: Garces said that if nothing else, the win would help boost the profile of his restaurants. He said the platform would also be "a vehicle to do good, whether it's through charity work, or supporting young culinary talent. Having that title gives you a lot of leverage."

Chef Mehta predicted that Garces "would be one of the best Iron Chefs possible...I'm flattered at being on the final stage with him."

-- Rene Lynch
On Twitter @renelynch

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Photo credit: Food Network

Comments

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Chef Garces deserved to win . He was consistant and prepared food that real people love to eat,Not only that, he has integrity and was a good competitor. Chef Mehta, while creative, but not consistant at all was a little bit underhanded. I know it's about winning but when Chef Trevino needed grape leaves Chef Mehta took all of them and used them under his platter. not even as part of the dish or as a garnish. I thought that was so unprofessional of him. Bravo, Chef Garces!!!