I would never expect this show to depict reality, but I spent the weekend clamoring for an episode of the original Iron Chef, so that I could wash off the residue. The Original was overdone and grandiose, but in a delightfully understated way. And they REALLY did focus on the food, what was being done to it, and how. The USA version barely did this at all, it was more about who was cooler and hipper and had the most posturing, not about what ingredients were used, and how.
They made it stupid, as in low brow and unchallenging, as far as food goes. It's almost embarassing when you think that this is what they did so that they thought Americans would like it. If you are an American, which I am.
SG
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