Next Iron Chef, Season 3: Behind the Scenes of Episode 6

Browse The Next Iron Chef rivals' dishes and get a closer look at the sixth episode's challenges.

Photo By: EDWARDCHEN

Photo By: Edward Chen

Photo By: EDWARDCHEN

Photo By: Edward Chen

Photo By: EDWARDCHEN

Welcome to Vegas

It's down to the final five. The chefs arrive in Vegas, where Alton and world-class pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury present a Secret Ingredient Challange that would intimidate any chef.

The Secret Ingredient Is ...

Chocolate! The chefs must use it to create a wedding-worthy dessert.

Get Inspired

All of the rivals are nervous about attempting to create desserts that even come close to Jean-Philippe Maury's award-winning confections.

Confidence?

Chef Canora smiles for the camera, but he's anxious when his pastry puffs fail to "poof" in the oven: "Do I try to make this whole thing over and risk not being able to put up anything at all?"

Adapting on the Fly

Chef Canora intended to make croquembouche — a French dessert that's essentially a tower of tiny cream puffs — but after this setback, he moves to plan B: "I'm cutting them in half and making little sandwiches."

Chef Canora's Dessert

Torre di Baci (Tower of Kisses): Chocolate Pastry Cream-Filled Profiteroles With Hazelnuts

Croquembouche Times Three

Chef Canora is not the only one attempting the ambitious croquembouche: Chef Tsai and Chef Caswell are also making them.

Chef Tsai's Dessert

Winning Dish: Chocolate Creameux With a Flambéed Banana Croquembouche

Chef Caswell's Dessert

Croquembouche With Cardamom and Chocolate Mousse and Bourbon Chocolate Mousse

Chef Forgione's Dessert

Fear and Loathing Parfait Cake: Peanut Butter and Chocolate Parfait "Cake," Feuilletine Crunch and Hazelnut Brittle

Apart From the Pack

When Alton asks Chef Tio if she is "croquembouching as well," she replies, "Hell no!" She's going in a different direction with a trio of plated desserts.

Chef Tio's Dessert

From Left: Chocolate Panna Cotta With Fleur de Sel and a Cinnamon Doughnut; Blueberry Almond Cake; Chocolate Ganache With Grapefruit Gel, Pink Peppercorns and a Cocoa Nib Tuille

Chairman's Challenge

From the pastry kitchen, the chefs move on to Sage restaurant for their next challenge of the day. Everyone is on edge: The Chairman has called for a double elimination.

An Inspired Buffet

The chefs are challenged to transform the old school 24-hour Vegas buffet: "The Chairman wants you to razzle dazzle Sin City with your modern version." — Alton Brown

Behind the Lens

The production crew figures out a game plan for shooting the frenetic challenge in a crowded restaurant kitchen.

Pre-Prep Brainstorm

Chef Tsai takes a moment to collect his buffet ideas before any cooking begins: "This is the toughest challenge to date."

Ingredient Advantage

As the winner of the Secret Ingredient Challenge, Chef Tsai gets a head start to select ingredients. "His advantage is enormous. It has everything to do with product and what he can choose." — Chef Caswell

Menu Planning

Each chef must prepare three hot and two cold dishes, so Chef Canora maps out his plans in his journal. The judges end up happy with his buffet.

Winner: Chef Canora's Buffet

Compressed Fruit Salad; "Seafood Salad" Scallop Carpaccio With Salmon Belly Sashimi; Arista With Fennel Passatta; New School Eggplant Parmesan; Braised Veal Cheek

Chef Tio's Buffet

Asian Garlic Cured Duck; Lobster Shepherd's Pie; Creamy Cauliflower Soup; Housemade Ricotta Gnudi; Cured and Slow-Roasted Salmon

Anybody's Game

The judges called Chef Tsai's "Tour of Asia" buffet creations inspired, but found major flaws in technique. "If I go home today, I will be horrified." — Chef Tsai

Chef Tsai's Buffet

Japan: Soy Smoked Salmon and Avocado Parfait; Thailand: Thai Scallop Ceviche; Singapore: Garlic Black Pepper Lobster; Vietnam: Ribeye Pho; China: Sweet and Sour Baby Back Ribs

Chef Forgione's Buffet

Chilled Garden Vegetable Consomme; Old Fashioned Prime Rib; Coconut Curry Braised Veal Cheeks; Sous Vide Leg of Lamb; Raw Salmon Apple Coriander Nage

Gulf Coast Letdown

In the end, the judges only sent one chef home this week. Chef Caswell's Gulf Coast-inspired buffet fell short: "His inability to wow us has really been hurting him." — Michael Symon

Chef Caswell's Buffet

Beef and Green Grape Salad; Baby Back Ribs; Chili Braised Pork Butt; Texas Style Barbecued Cracked Crab; Charred Shrimp and Fig Salad

Sheet-Pan Chicken Caesar Salad

Marinara Poached Chicken

Easy Chocolate Marshmallow Mousse

Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli

The Best Meatloaf

On Tonight

The Great Food Truck Race

Tournament of Champions

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

The Pioneer Woman

The Kitchen

Delicious Miss Brown

Kardea Brown

Ree Drummond

Ina Garten

Sunny Anderson

Bobby Flay

Valerie Bertinelli

Guy Fieri

Giada De Laurentiis

Molly Yeh

Step-by-Step Tutorials

Browse Meal Plans

Encore: Instant Pot Gooey Cinnamon Rolls

Encore: Spinach and Artichoke Shakshuka

Secret Ingredient Turkey Burgers

Quick Fettuccine and Broccoli Alfredo

Vegan Rainbow Carrot Cake

Encore: Venezuelan Arepas from a Family Recipe

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Mix-and-Match Dinners

Healthy Spring Dinners in Just About 30 Minutes

Encore: Instant Pot Gooey Cinnamon Rolls

Encore: Spinach and Artichoke Shakshuka

Secret Ingredient Turkey Burgers

Quick Fettuccine and Broccoli Alfredo

Vegan Rainbow Carrot Cake

Encore: Venezuelan Arepas from a Family Recipe

Spring Pea Soup with Mint

Spelt Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

The Next Iron Chef

Next Iron Chef, Season 3: Behind the Scenes of Episode 6

Welcome to Vegas

The Secret Ingredient Is ...

Get Inspired

Confidence?

Adapting on the Fly

Chef Canora's Dessert

Croquembouche Times Three

Chef Tsai's Dessert

Chef Caswell's Dessert

Chef Forgione's Dessert

Apart From the Pack

Chef Tio's Dessert

Chairman's Challenge

An Inspired Buffet

Behind the Lens

Pre-Prep Brainstorm

Ingredient Advantage

Menu Planning

Winner: Chef Canora's Buffet

Chef Tio's Buffet

Anybody's Game

Chef Tsai's Buffet

Chef Forgione's Buffet

Gulf Coast Letdown

Chef Caswell's Buffet