‘The Next Iron Chef’: It’s Jehangir vs. Jose

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For Chef Jose Garces, it was a curdled flan. For Chef Jehangir Mehta, it was the grape leaves. The last two chefs standing in the battle to become ‘The Next Iron Chef’ say they are haunted by such flops as they head into Sunday night’s finale on the Food Network. The Season 2 winner will join an elite stable of champions including Masaharu Morimoto, Bobby Flay and Cat Cora. These culinary warriors are the ones to beat on the popular Food Network game show ‘Iron Chef America.’

But the title goes beyond a TV game show. The winner gains immediate fame thanks to a singular standing on the Food Network platform, and fortune is not far behind.

That’s a chief reason why many of the competitors -- all successful chefs in their own right -- risked all to join the competition.

‘It’s a huge risk to go on the show and possibly be eliminated early ... or be displayed in a negative light,’ said Chef Garces. ‘But [if you win] it brings a lot of prestige, it’s an honor and a privilege to be an ‘Iron Chef.’ ... It’s very good for business as well, let’s be honest. I have six restaurants, so having that title would be great.’ Read more here:

Photo: Chef Garces, left, and Chef Mehta. Photo credit: Food Network