457835 Tue Nov 06 09:52:44 -0800 2007 16 33 Food Media and News 0 3099997 I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a tie between Besh and Symon. I actually think it's probably been set up that way from the very beginning. I think FN has to look a bit beyond food and attempt to find "acceptable" personalities for TV - not too reserved, not too arrogant, not too "sweet" (the women - and I'm female). I think with Besh and Symon they have both - the right personalities and the great chefs. They will keep them both and add two new iron chefs - just a theory. Tue Nov 06 09:52:44 -0800 2007 129259 wintersummer 1 3100182 This has actually crossed my mind - given the Kitchen Stadium arena and I assume the ICA points system of judging they will follow. I would be happy with that outcome! Tue Nov 06 10:37:51 -0800 2007 3099997 16001 Jeanne 1 3100371 A while back, in an interview with Andrea Strong, Alton Brown talked about The Next Iron Chef (after it was done taping but before it started its run on TV). Alton had this to say: "The new Iron Chef, who has already been chosen, has already competed and really shows up well." This doesn't mean that there wasn't a tie or that they didn't choose two Iron Chefs, but the wording strongly implies only one was chosen. Here's a link to the interview: http://thestrongbuzz.com/buzz/weekend/buzz_weekend_archive_details.php?weekend_id=21 Tue Nov 06 11:18:42 -0800 2007 3099997 16340 alanstotle 2 3100461 Put that together with this Toronto newspaper article http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/262959 and it sure looks like Symon is the winner. Tue Nov 06 11:38:13 -0800 2007 3100371 104856 Jocelyn P 3 3100522 This article has been broad up on another board - they refer to Michael Symon as a prospective Iron Chef - not as an Iron Chef. Tue Nov 06 11:49:23 -0800 2007 3100461 16001 Jeanne 4 3100540 Yes, but why else would Symon be competing on Iron Chef? Early speculation was that the battle against the Toronto chef could have been part of NIC, but that doesn't seem likely now. Tue Nov 06 11:54:05 -0800 2007 3100522 104856 Jocelyn P 5 3100944 Don't know why Symon would be competing if he wasn't the winner Jocelyn - this is far out, but maybe they do actually tie and their talents later tested on ICA? Or maybe the paper was trying to shield itself from a lawsuit from the Food Network and put "prospective" in the sentence - I guess we'll see next week. I'd love a tie though. Tue Nov 06 13:22:47 -0800 2007 3100540 16001 Jeanne 6 3102125 That article said the episode with Michael Symon will air in January...too far out to be related to TNIC which concludes next week. I think the cat's out of the bag. Tue Nov 06 20:36:14 -0800 2007 3100944 109044 Bunson 7 3104014 Not that anyone really cares... I'm not watching it to see 'who wins' because they're both very good at what they do. It's not like various other foody competitions where there's one stand-out and a bunch of would-bes who definitely aren't. Any of the final three could have made a creditable showing of themselves in Kitchen Stadium... Wed Nov 07 12:19:44 -0800 2007 3102125 67657 Kajikit 1 3100688 Maybe not a tie, but in our house we think it's way to close to call. The best part is that we'd be equally pleased to see either of them win - that never happens in Top Chef. They're such different temperments, though. The one difference that may be important: I always describe Batali & Cory as unflappable - I think that makes a huge difference. But I think that it describes Besh more that Symon. Still, love 'em both. Tue Nov 06 12:28:40 -0800 2007 3099997 117124 WNYamateur 1 3101041 Doubtful, unless they retire many existing Iron Chefs. I think Symon is more suitable. He seems to think quicker on his feet, and he's got more of a personality and charisma, which is important in TVland. I didn't remember him until I heard his 'hyena' kind of laugh and realized he's the guy from the No Reservations show on Cleveland. Tue Nov 06 13:44:34 -0800 2007 3099997 46671 notmartha 1 3101055 Interesting idea, but doubtful. Reality shows always have a clear winner. I don't foresee the food network diverging from that tried and true formula. On the off chance there was a tie, a rematch would be most appropriate. Tue Nov 06 13:47:57 -0800 2007 3099997 10793 Morton the Mousse 1 3101421 A tie? No way. It would be too anticlimactic. I'm predicting Symon will win, because they keep playing clips of Symon saying things like "I love competition. I live for this stuff!" Of course, this is what the editors of the program are choosing to show us, and with that in mind it looks to me like they are laying the foundation for his win by portraying him as the one with the personality to be The Next Iron Chef. Tue Nov 06 15:43:33 -0800 2007 3099997 138816 jlafler 2 3101634 really? what stuck with me was Symon's disappointment and depression over not having a good day in the kitchen in Paris. Lots of beating himself up and psyching himself out. He's always read as a dark horse/big surprise to me when he pulls it together big and wins. With Besh, I just see him in Battle Andouille v Batali. He really rolled with it, and won. He came out like a hurricane and war surviving superstar. I saw that episode before I knew about Next Iron Chef. Who did Symon face in regular season ICA and how did it go? I never saw it -- sure wish they were showing it in repeats... Tue Nov 06 16:53:47 -0800 2007 3101421 11989 pitu 3 3101669 According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Iron_Chef and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_result_statistics_on_Iron_Chef_America, Symon lost to Morimoto in Battle Asparagus, but the scores aren't recorded. Tue Nov 06 17:07:04 -0800 2007 3101634 53971 momjamin 4 3102023 I remember that episode and while I don't remember the exact score, one thing that I remember vividly was that Symon lost by a wide margin in all 3 categories...I was expecting him to do better since he's one of the top guys in the midwest, and arguably the best in Cleveland. Tue Nov 06 19:47:21 -0800 2007 3101669 109044 Bunson 5 3103152 Yes, but the ingredient was asparagus, and I do have to say that Morimoto seemed to do a truly extraordinary job in that battle. I remember that he did this incredible roll where the sections of rice and asparagus and seaweed and another ingredient came out in this geometric pattern that reminded me of a church window. Wed Nov 07 08:58:54 -0800 2007 3102023 18368 youngho