The Next Iron Chef Season 3 Week 7: Chefs Marc Forgione and Marco Canora Master Seduction, Move on to Kitchen Stadium Finale

With the finale of 'The Next Iron Chef' season 3 set to cook up some excitement next Sunday night on The Food Network, the four remaining contestants took on the concept of Seduction during tonight's penultimate episode. While Chefs Marc Forgione and Marco Canora rose to the top and secured spots in the head-to-head Kitchen Stadium finale, Chefs Celina Tio and Ming Tsai fell short of a shot at Iron Chef greatness. Here's a recap.

'The Next Iron Chef' season 3 week 7 opened with the four chefs entering a Las Vegas steakhouse bar, where they were greeted by host Alton Brown and master mixologist Charlotte Voisey. Alton challenged the contestants to "seduce" the judges with their own signature cocktails and accompanying bar snacks during the day's liquor-infused 30-minute Secret Ingredient Challenge. Chefs Tio, Canora, Tsai and Forgione got to work quickly, with the ever (over) confident Canora claiming to have the seduction element "going in spades" and Forgione asserting with a chuckle that "bacon gets me excited". The last minute of the challenge involved a frenzy of last-minute skittering, but all four hopefuls managed to plate their snacks and pour their drinks without issue.

As usual, the contestants presented their creations to one another for judgment, and this week, the mixologist on hand joined in as well. Chef Canora's drink drew praise all-around, while Chef Tsai drew criticism from Chef Canora in particular for his snack. Chef Forgione earned praise for his combo, and Chef Tio's drink gained praise. Although Chefs Tio and Canora earned two top votes each, the Chairman's rules stated that the visiting judge's vote would serve as tiebreaker, so Chef Canora took the win. (Groan.)

When 'The Next Iron Chef' week 7 continued, Alton introduced the next Secret Ingredient Challenge, which involved the four chefs choosing one of four safes containing a secret luxurious meaty ingredient. Each chef chose a safe, with Canora making the final selection and stealing Tsai's chosen beef. But no fear: Tsai's new safe revealed a rare and especially tender form of pork that led Alton to declare "you may have just spelled your doom" to Canora. Alton revealed the rest of the challenge prep, telling the contestants that they'd also be shopping at different restaurants in search of additional ingredients. Chef Canora was given the advantage of choosing not only his own initial destination, but those of his competitors as well. Canora employed a 'keep away' strategy by selecting a Japanese restaurant in order to prevent Chef Tsai from capitalizing on his East Meets West roots. He then sent Chef Tsai to an American place, Chef Tio to an Italian restaurant and Chef Forgione to a Spanish spot. There was plenty of running, grabbing and strategizing all-around.

As the contestants entered the Aria Resort kitchen for the 90-minute Next Iron Chef season 3 week 7 challenge, Alton reminded them that the end-result of their efforts would be a double elimination. When the starting gun fired, Chef Canora was first to share his plan. He claimed to be having a "romantic and seductive" experience with his slab of beef. Chef Forgione asserted that "lobster is sexy" and that he planned to focus on shape and texture to convey seduction and sensuality. Chef Tio struggled early on with cleaning her fish but moved on with "delicate" treatment of her food. Chef Tsai planned to use a "hot and sour" theme for his dishes. I was not-so-quietly amused by Chef Canora's tantrum over the mysterious disappearance of the parchment paper; after all, how often do we see tantrums in Kitchen Stadium? Composure is key, no matter how good the dishes.

Up next, each chef presented his or her three dishes to the judging panel, including Simon Majumdar, Donatella Arpaia and Michael Symon. Chef Tio was first to present her fish creations. She gained praise for most of her offerings, with Simon calling her final piece her best of the competition. Chef Tsai went next, and although he earned high marks for his first dish, Donatella and Simon were unimpressed with his second plate. Michael, however, called the three dishes his "most focused" of the 'Next Iron Chef' season 3 competition. Chef Canora was up third with his beefy offerings. Michael called his tartare "off the charts delicious" and he earned high marks for his dishes. Chef Forgione finished up the evening's seduction dish presentation with his lobster fare. In appreciation of one of his dishes, Michael declared "you got your revenge on the brazen pressure cooker", but the judges criticized the thickness of his pasta.

Alton sent the judges home for the evening to sit on their thoughts, and they returned in the morning for judgment. Simon worried over Chef Tio's inconsistency with regard to ingredients she enjoys versus ones she does not, but acknowledged that she'd risen to the occasion the previous day. Chef Tsai took heat for texture issues, while Chef Canora earned praise for his successful use of fat. Michael called Chef Forgione's seduction-themed food "fantastic". So who gets the boot? Tough one this week. Very, very tough.

'The Next Iron Chef' season 3 week 7 came to a head as Alton called on the four contestants for final judgment before Donatella, Simon and Michael. Michael told them that they should all be very proud of what they'd accomplished, and Donatella praised Chef Tio for rising to the occasion. Chef Canora was quickly deemed the winner of the challenge, and passed to next week's finale. Alton next addressed Chef Tio, who was dismissed from the competition, leaving Chefs Forgione and Tsai fighting for one last spot in Kitchen Stadium. After a few dramatic moments, Chef Tsai was eliminated from The Next Iron Chef season 3.

Tune in next week as Chefs Canora and Forgione go head to head in Kitchen Stadium for the coveted title of Iron Chef.

Sources

'The Next Iron Chef' season 3 week 7, The Food Network, November 14, 2010