'Next Iron Chef' shocker: Appleman goes home

Nate Appleman was cocky 'til the end.

This week, the competitors had to cook a five-course Indian feast. At one point, Appleman crowed: "I'm a white boy who's never cooked Indian before and I just cooked five Indian dishes and I'm pretty sure I won this."

The winner and survivors of this challenge would be heading to Asia for the next round of the competition. Not only did Appleman not win, he found himself up for elimination: "The Next Iron Chef" host Alton Brown held one plane ticket in his hand as he stood in front of Appleman and chef Seamus Mullen to deliver the news. One of the chefs would be going home. Appleman seemed certain it wouldn't be him: "Alton is holding one ticket. ... I think it has my name on it."

I didn't think so, either.

After all, the chef, recently of A16 in San Francisco, was named rising star chef by the James Beard Foundation and recognized by Food & Wine mag as best new chef. Although he has proven himself to have sharp elbows and was willing to say whatever was needed to curry favor with the judges, the guy could clearly cook.

But not this week. His Indian feast was a flop with the judges, who said it wasn't even vaguely Indian. Brown summed it up this way, "You're a great cook ... but in the end, someone had to go."

As might be expected, Appleman didn't go quietly. "I still think I should be the next 'Iron Chef.' "

After this week's double elimination -- chef Roberto Trevino was also bounced -- it's down to four. There doesn't seem to be a single standout, they've all had their ups and downs. Who do you think will be the last one standing?

-- Rene Lynch 

Comments

[Lola]

I think the fix is in for Chef Freitag. Her cooking is unremarkable, however she is a fixture of the food network already. I cannot see what she has to offer the show, but I do remember her appearance on Iron Chef and Alton seemed to have a very friendly rapport with her. I would be very disappointed if it turns out that way.

[army04steve]

Seems unfair that for a double elimination that the food of highlight would be so in favor of one of the other chefs. Why not choose Hawaiian or Hungarian or Ethopian? Indian Cuisine...really? Not an even playing field. Chef Freitag does seem to have the inside. Chef Appleman although a great cook...was not such a nice person...and in the end...I believe that it had just as much to do with his departure than just the food. Lying is not the way to a judge's heart.

[Pennagirl]

I agree, the show seems skewed for Chef Freitag. To be honest, can't stand her, she acts so superior to everyone else. I will not watch Iron Chef America if she wins. Her personality is just too grating. I don't particularly care for her on Chopped...she brings HER personal choices to the judging table instead of judging the food on the food's merit. If she doesn't like spicy, then the Chopped chefs should have "known" this and not cooked a spicy dish...she says "I don't like it...." She was extremely catty to Chef Crenn when they were judging each others dishes on TNIC. I liked Trevino, would like to see Garces or Mehta win (sorry about the spellings).

[joanne]

I am kind of glad to see Chef Appleman go. He was very cocky and not very nice to his chefmates. I don't think he is as good as he thinks he is. I hope Chef Fritag wins it all. We need another female Iron Chef.

[Angela]

I was never a big fan of Chef Appleman, more because of his attitude than his cooking skills but I have to admit that he put a brave fight in the last challenge. The one person I was sure would cruise through this challenge was Chef Mehta! In fact I was disappointed that he did not win the challenge. For some weird reason the judges decided to declare Chef Garces as the winner. In spite of the fact that Chef Garces had served a Daal with Zucchini on top and the tapioca in his dessert was uncooked. The judges had nothing negative to say about Chef Mehta’s cooking. In fact they all concluded it was delicious! Judge Donatella commented that, “All this is very authentic and delicious but he has not innovated at all!” To which Judge Steingarten immediately retorted that they were not asked to innovate! Then when it was time to announce the winner they chose Chef Garces for being innovative with the dishes and cooking them with a Latin twist!! Gimme a break here! If that was the criterion then Chef Appleman should have been the winner! The only positive point about his dishes was that they were innovative and he had cooked them with an American twist!

[elena]

I'm glad he's gone. He's a vicious, immature little school boy who finally got what was coming to him.

I predict Chef Mullen will be the winner with Chef Freitag a close second. Chef Mehta may get some kind of show because of his quirkiness and because Indian food has not really been showcased. He might do well on Saturday morning Food Network lineup.

To me, none of the others have an "it" kind of personality. I liked Chef Trevino (he kind of reminded me of a jolly Russell Crowe) but he really wasn't up to the same cooking standard the top chefs who remain are.

[CB]

Appelman was a dirt bag. The way he greedily took all the yellow tail fish and wanted to take everything else too was just over the top. He has a case of "short man" syndrome and he got what was coming to him.

Go Amanda Freitag!

[Dave in Northridge]

None of you were annoyed that the episode was set up to benefit Chef Mehta? You're really on to something, armyo4steve, and I was delighted he didn't win. My guess at this point is that Mehta will be the next chef out. As for the other three, any of them would be a decent addition to what's becoming a supremely lackluster show.

Meanwhile, Alton Brown has developed quite an attitude about TNIC:

http://internetfoodassociation.com/2009/11/03/top-chef-producers-come-to-d-c-for-casting-call-talk-with-the-ifa/

[PretenderNX01]

So has the secret ingredient been "red herring" all the time?

I liked Chef Frietag, if she's let personal opinions sway her on Chopped she is hardly alone there. On NICA she could be a bit to giggly for my taste but I never thought she seemed arrogant. Not as much as Chef Appleman. Mind you he's cute and all but his cockyness went overboard a bit.
Maybe he was just playing it up for the cameras.

There were several chefs though who I didn't think played fair at times, hogging all the herbs or a machine just to try to sabotage the rest. They all went home. Kind of karma.

But back to Chef Frietag, I related to her mostly becuase I was more familiar with her. They even ran commercials about watching how Chef Frietag does on Next Iron Chef. I assumed she had won and they were trying to capitalize off it already. Apparently it's all been a foiler campaign by Food Network to keep it a secret.

Keeps me guessing, I'll give you that.

[Robert]

Seriously? If it was for his advantage then he should have been declared the winner because his dishes were delicious. Also by this logic the 4th episode, Mexican challenge, was set up to benefit Chef Garces because Chef Garces is known for his Mexican cooking and he should have been eliminated last week! I don’t believe that there is any round which is introduced to benefit anyone. All these rounds are introduced to see how chefs perform under pressure and outside their comfort zones . I believe that Chef Mehta has what it takes to become the Next Iron Chef and he has proven his mettle by winning different challenges in the past episodes!

[Megara]

I am very dissapointed that Freitag went home, I was hoping she win she have winning personality another male Iron Chef? isn't enough with Michael Symon? I am very upset Freitag should have won, I think they may have something agaisnt her since when She battle Bobby Flay her dishes were much better but they gave it to Flay.

[Evelyn]

Please, the only reason Mehta didn't win was that the viewers would've gotten pissed off if the one chef at an evident advantage were able to score on that advantage. There was nothing wrong with his dish; it was the most authentic, most in line with Indian dishes. He understands Indian dishes more than the judges do! I'm just glad he's in the finals - I hope that he'll win! Still, I have a nagging feeling that Garces is going to win, simply because his "personality" stands out more.

[Angie]

I agree that Chef Freitag is a good chef but I am not sure if she had what it takes to go all the way through! She has a great cooking style and in most episodes she got the feedback that she had cooked well but the food lacked the finesse it takes to be a winner. As an Iron Chef you need to get it right ALL the time! I think in terms of adaptability, innovation, excellence under pressure, style etc. I can think of only one candidate in the top 3 and that is Chef Mehta.