The Next Iron Chef: Redemption, Top Moments of Episode 3

Get an inside look at the rival chefs' challenges and relive the most-memorable moments from episode three of Food Network's The Next Iron Chef: Redemption.

Episode: Simplicity

Redeemed But Defeated

After a three-week run in the competition, Chef Eric Greenspan was eliminated, falling to Chefs Falkner, Mehta and Vigneron in a four-way Secret Ingredient Showdown.

Meet Todd Selby

At the Los Angeles Farmers Market, Alton introduces photographer Todd Selby, who will snap photos of the chefs in their food elements in the hopes of capturing their personalities. The rivals will use these candid images as inspiration when putting each other's personality on a plate in the Chairman's Challenge of Simplicity.

Say Cheese

Grilled cheese guru Chef Greenspan poses with his ingredient of choice behind the dairy case at a specialty food store. "My food is my personality," he promises. "I am juicy and delicious."

Happy-Go-Lucky

"I'm serious about the competition," Chef Freitag says, "but when I'm doing what I love, I'm happy, I'm having fun." The camera quickly picks up her bubbly personality as she works the meat counter and wraps fresh cuts of beef to go.

Chef Mehta As Matchmaker

Thanks to his winning, innovative twist on a falafel last week, Chef Mehta has the advantage of pairing up the rivals. For his own culinary matchup, he selects Chef Mendelsohn: "I know I can portray him and beat him," Chef Mehta explains.

Channeling Gastronomy

Chef Guarnaschelli prepares a crispy toast with souffled goat cheese and liquid nitrogen-frozen lemon to best represent Chef Vigneron on a plate. "I put myself in his shoes, but with his version of flavors," she tells the judges, who are wowed by her bite. Chef Zakarian calls it "a really great flavor presentation."

Tussle Over a Truffle

"Food doesn't like violence," Alton warns after watching Chefs Appleman and Vigneron battle it out — physically — for what they think is the lone black truffle in the refrigerator. Chef Vigneron gets his hands on this pricey beauty first, and although he isn't using all of it, he refuses to share with Chef Appleman. "That will come back to bite you, my friend," Chef Appleman tells his rival.

Taste Test

Chef Falkner goes in for a quick taste as she's preparing a Chef Freitag-inspired sea urchin. She tells the judges that her offering is "very clean, refreshing and sexy to look at and eat," and while Donatella calls the bite "simple, elegant and sexy," she questions its likeness to Chef Freitag's photo.

Slick Like Shrimp

Chef Mendelsohn plans to outcook Chef Mehta with bacon-wrapped shrimp, something he says he chose on account of his rival's "suspicious" culinary personality. While Chef Zakarian says that he wishes he could have "a plate of these things," Donatella questions how well it reflects Chef Mehta.

Picturing Luxury and the Devil

Chefs Greenspan and Appleman represent each other with bites of sea urchin-infused deviled eggs and no-expense-spared surf and turf, respectively. The judges praise both chefs for their stellar bites, and Simon claims that deciding which of their dishes reigns supreme "is going to be one of the toughest things I'll do in this whole competition."

Understanding Anchovies

"Chef Falkner and an anchovy? I've never heard anything more perfect," Iron Chef Zakarian tells Chef Freitag of her dish to represent the renowned pastry chef. He deems her Sicilian-style pasta with anchovies "simply brilliant," and she wins the Chairman’s Challenge overall. "Of course inside I'm having a victory party," an elated Chef Freitag says after the challenge.

The Fallen Four

Bested by their pictured partners, Chefs Falkner, Greenspan, Mehta and Vigneron will battle it out in a four-way Secret Ingredient Showdown for the chance to cook another day. "Four people, two people, three people. Whatever," Chef Greenspan says of the larger-than-usual showdown scene. "This is about redemption. I’m going to be tough to beat."

Battle Cereal

The Chairman has gifted the chefs a Secret Ingredient of Kellogg's Rice Krispies and Raisin Bran in a breakfast-inspired showdown. The trick? Each chef must incorporate both varieties into a single dish, in only 30 minutes. "I am for the first time at a loss," Chef Vigneron says.

Familiar Territory

For the second week a row, Chef Falkner finds herself cooking for her life in the Secret Ingredient Showdown. Her plan today is simple: "I gotta show the boys what I'm made of." She indeed brings her A-game, presenting a Rice Krispies-studded marshmallow with a chocolate ganache laced with Raisin Bran.

Indian Breakfast Table

Chef Mehta relies on an Indian breakfast staple to inspire his showdown dish. He prepares a take on chivda, a spicy fried cereal, by deep-frying Raisin Bran and serving it with a Rice Krispies-laced crab cake. Although Donatella finds the cake too greasy, Simon deems it "a really good bite."

Sadness at the Showdown

"I just want to stay true to cereal," Chef Vigneron says of his approach to the battle. He presents the judges with what he calls "my version of milk and cereal," a treat made with both Rice Krispies and Raisin Bran and a coconut water ice cream, which Iron Chef Zakarian says boasts "smart technique and perfect balance."

Troubles With Tuna

Chef Greenspan's Rice Krispies-encrusted tuna receives mixed reviews from the judges. While Simon says that it "works really, really well," Iron Chef Zakarian calls the fish "a lightweight protein" and explains that "what this dish is lacking is fat."

Two for Two

Just like last week, Chef Falkner is immediately deemed safe from elimination, her Tartufo Bianco being called by Alton "one of the best dishes any of us have ever consumed." Simon tells her, "You cook at your best" at the showdown.

Goodbye to Chef Greenspan

Ultimately Alton tells Chef Greenspan that he’s been "outcooked" by his fellow rivals, a word the chef wouldn't use to describe what went down. "I wasn't outcooked," Chef Greenspan explains. "I might have been outconceptualized." Despite his exit, he maintains, "I'm proud of what I did. I conquered grasshoppers. I showed I'm not just a grilled cheese guy."