In the season premiere of The Next Iron Chef, ten chefs arrive in Los Angeles to compete in a series of globally-inspired cooking challenges that will test their abilities to master culinary styles from around the world. The chefs are greeted by host Alton Brown (Iron Chef America, Good Eats), who gives them their first two tests: Memory and Fearlessness. For Memory, the chefs are asked to use an ingredient that has played a significant role in their lives to create a dish that expresses their culinary style and heritage. Next, the chefs are assigned exotic ingredients from around the world that test their iron wills and stomachs. They must showcase their fearless nature through their approach in using these ingredients as the centerpiece of two dishes. The first chef is then eliminated.
While the team that won their initial heat gets an automatic free pass to the tournament finale, the winners of the other two heats must face off in a semifinal event to determine who will move on. The teams create a party platter featuring something raw, something fried and something cheesy. The first chefs in the relay can't shop for more than eight pounds of ingredients, and the second chefs get to grab an additional item, only to be told they must swap! Then, the third chef plates and presents the finished platters in hopes of moving on to the big $60,000 finale!