'The Next Iron Chef': If only they'd hand out a prize for lying...

Nate Appleman is clearly an amazing chef. He's also a liar. Hey, that's his word.

He arrived before the judges with his Americanized spin on an Asian dish -- he took pot roast and mashed potatoes and made it with short ribs and mashed rice. And then he began spinning a charming tale about how it was an homage of sorts to his mother's pot roast and her always-lumpy mashed potatoes.

Later, he said none of that was true. "It's complete lies," Appleman confided to the camera. "I'm just trying to wow them."

The judges ate it, and his dish, up. It was enough to allow Appleman to survive to cook another week, as they say, but not enough for outright victory. That went to Chef Amanda Freitag's fish cake, and Chef Seamus Mullen' reuben.

And that irritated the fellow competitors. Chef Jose Garces questioned whether such simple fare was "Iron Chef-worthy." While Appleman remarked, "I got beat by a sandwich and a crab cake -- that didn't have crab."

But it doesn't really matter what those guys think. The judges ruled the fish cake and the Reuben the two best dishes to come out of this week's challenge, which began with a field trip showing off some of L.A.'s edible highlights, including Pho Huyhn, Nak Won, Din Tai Fung Dumpling House, and Jitlada. It was a brilliant twist on the "taste-it, now-make-it" challenge that has become common place on food competitions: Pairs arrived at their respective Asian restaurant, tasted the restaurant's signature dish, and then had to make it in that very same kitchen -- struggling with the unfamiliar setup and ingredients -- and then face judgment by the restaurant's staff. (And those people were tough!)

Once back in Kitchen Stadium Lite, the chefs faced the ultimate challenge -- inspired by the Kogi taco truck: Transform a traditional Asian dish into an American package, with extra points for innovation. Unfortunately for Chef Brad Farmerie, his Pittsburgh-Peking Perogies just didn't cut the mustard. ("Back to the Farm" is the irresistable headline.)

There were some wild moments. Appleman scrambling over the counter -- not very hygienic. Chef Mullen conceding that he may have confused the sugar and the salt. But the real shocker: the Kogi truck, sans any line.

-- Rene Lynch

Memo to Mehta: Stop it already with the ice cream. That machine either does not like you or it does not work.

Photo credit: Food Network

Comments

[Angela]

Loved your post. Didn’t notice Appleman’s talent for storytelling before but I suppose it’s pretty natural isn’t it? He has to have a story behind his preparation and is probably not as good articulating his creative process as say Chef Jehangir Mehta is. I’m always interested to know why he makes a particular dish. In Episode 3, his interpretation of Thai Curry ‘take out’ (with milkshake) was completely different. No one seems prepared for the culinary curve balls he serves them. The judges loved, as Alton Brown put it, ‘his bid to break out of the pack’ and thought it was brilliant. Can’t wait to see what he dishes out next and I really hope the icecream machine doesn’t bail on him again (because we all know he isn’t going to give up).

[Albert]

He did it! I knew Chef Mehta could do it! I just finished watching the 4th episode of NIC. My husband and I had a bet whether Chef Mehta would use the ice cream machine again this time and I won! I get my dinner at Graffiti as a reward! We have been tracking Chef Mehta from the beginning and according to us he is amazingly talented and consistent with his preparations. Anya Fernand complimented him by saying that he executed the complete challenge with grace. Since Jeffery did not have anything negative or sarcastic to say, I take that as a positive vote. It is quite an achievement to work with one ingredient and bring out its subtle flavors in different dishes. Donatella complimented him for each of his preparations stating that the tamarind braised pork, chips and the apple tasted amazing and that he brought out the tamarind flavor very well. This was the first challenge in which I saw Chef Garces sweat right from the word go! Chef Freitag’s saving grace, when she was one of the last 2 contestants, was her dessert. I was surprised by Chef Trevino’s performance. I thought Mexican food was his domain. This is the second or third time that he has finished in the bottom three. He needs to pull up his socks or should we say sharpen his knives ;:) In the end I think it was a fun challenge to watch. Once again I am happy Chef Mehta won! Go Chef Mehta! This is the spirit Iron Chefs are made of! I can’t wait to see you win all the way through!

[Marcy]

I am disappointed in Chef Mehta. I started out rooting for him, now I am for Chef Garza all the way. When Chef Mehta took all the grape leaves, knowing another chef needed them, I thought that was underhanded. Then he held on to the spice grinder so no one else could use it. After all of this he says "it's a competition, I don't care what other people think of me." Come on...your dishes is what will win the title of Iron Chef. Play fair Mehta. I have seen the other Iron Chefs they all have integrity and good sportsmanship. Granted its a competition, but if your food doesn't win it for you and cheating does, you don't deserve the title of Iron Chef.