Is Food Network feeling the heat from Bravo's Top Chef?

Okay, maybe the contestants for Top Chef did not have their best meals.Some like Hung who won , almost lost several times. Still it made for engaging TV and even my son told me about it so I took a look. Well I watched this whole season and it was engaging.
And maybe Bravo had this plot line which hooked people to Top Chef instead of Iron Chef America. Maybe the ongoing stuff. The more reality tone of it or what?
Now tonight is the first of the Iron chef america competition.
Unlike Top Chef, each will have his or her best meals all the time and it will come down to which is better of the best.
Still one of the judges already says in the promo "it's a little dry or not cooked enough." There was way to much of that in Top Chef.

Besh who beat Batalli by 6 is I think is the odds on favorite. He is awesome! I love Cajun.

I was wondering wether Sanchez made the cut as I did not see him in the promo. Sanchez ( his buddy from Cleveland Michael Symon who lost by 8 to Bitalli they were on the food channel with a show on Latin Mex stuff) tied with Morimoto, the first time in Iron Chef America. I could tell it was going to be close by the comments and neither really messed up so I was no surprised. Did the Bass give the edge to either , don't think so. He did make the cut.
Constanteno, who lost by 2 to Batalli, is in the competition.

Should be interesting how it stacks up to Top Chef. I just it's more about the meals and less about the meals not being cooking well enough (a real cop out).

read more below
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Food Net's The Next Iron Chef Contestants Announced: Aaron Sánchez Makes the Cut
Monday, July 16, 2007

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The Food Network is in production on The Next Iron Chef, a reality show on which -- see if you can follow along with us -- the next Iron Chef, to be chef #5 along side Batali, Flay, Morimoto and Cora, will be selected by the judging panel of Michael Ruhlman (noted food writer), Andrew Knowlton (Restaurant Editor of Bon Appétit magazine) and Donatella Arpaia (NY restaurateur). Alton Brown is hosting the show. Today, the contestants were announced and they are as follows:

John Besh (New Orleans, LA) Executive Chef, Restaurant August, Besh Steak, Lüke and La Provence
Chris Cosentino (San Francisco, CA) Executive Chef, Incanto
Jill Davie (Santa Monica, CA) Executive Chef, JOSIE
Traci Des Jardins (San Francisco, CA) Executive Chef & Co-Owner, Jardinière, Mijita and Acme Chophouse
Gavin Kaysen (San Diego, CA) Chef de Cuisine, El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn
Morou Ouattara (Washington, DC) Executive Chef & Owner, Farrah Olivia
Aarón Sánchez (New York, NY) Executive Chef & Owner, Centrico and Paladar
Michael Symon (Cleveland, OH) Executive Chef & Owner, Lola and Lolita

Aaron Sánchez will play the role of your New York favorite. Why any accomplished chef would agree to several weeks of reality competition torture is something that escapes us, but perhaps the show itself will answer that question. In any event, those are your finalists and the show will premiere Sunday, October 7th at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network. On to the official announcement:

THE SECRET INGREDIENT IS… A NEW IRON CHEF!

Eight Top U.S. Chefs to Compete for the Title of “The Next Iron Chef” on New Reality Series; Premieres Sunday, October 7th at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – The title of Iron Chef is synonymous with the world’s foremost culinary masters; and with the announcement of eight finalists, Food Network has begun production for The Next Iron Chef, the newest reality competition created to identify the next master to join the existing exclusive club of superstar chefs Mario Batali, Cat Cora, Bobby Flay and Masaharu Morimoto. Representing some of the nation’s best culinary talent, the finalists will battle for the chance to be crowned the next Iron Chef America. Hosted by Alton Brown (Good Eats, Iron Chef America), The Next Iron Chef will premiere Sunday, October 7th at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network.

After an extensive coast-to-coast search for the most celebrated culinary stars, Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production, Food Network, today announces the list of finalists. “We have chosen a group of chefs who we believe to be at the forefront of the culinary landscape, each of whom could stand proudly beside Bobby, Mario, Morimoto and Cat as a new Iron Chef,” says Tuschman. “In our quest, we are looking for an individual to complement the current group and bring a unique blend of innovation, creativity and passion to the show, which is currently the highest-rated program on the network.”

Each boasting years of culinary experience and numerous media accolades and awards from such prestigious organizations as the James Beard Foundation, the eight competitors vying for the Iron Chef title are:

• John Besh (New Orleans, LA) Executive Chef, Restaurant August, Besh Steak, Lüke and La Provence.
• Chris Cosentino (San Francisco, CA) Executive Chef, Incanto
• Jill Davie (Santa Monica, CA) Executive Chef, JOSIE
• Traci Des Jardins (San Francisco, CA) Executive Chef & Co-Owner, Jardinière, Mijita and Acme Chophouse
• Gavin Kaysen (San Diego, CA) Chef de Cuisine, El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn
• Morou Ouattara (Washington, DC) Executive Chef & Owner, Farrah Olivia
• Aarón Sánchez (New York, NY) Executive Chef & Owner, Centrico and Paladar
• Michael Symon (Cleveland, OH) Executive Chef & Owner, Lola and Lolita

Judging this fierce competition will be Michael Ruhlman (James Beard Foundation Award-winning author, cookbook author and food writer), Andrew Knowlton (Restaurant Editor of Bon Appétit magazine) and Donatella Arpaia (restaurateur and owner of acclaimed New York City restaurants davidburke&donatella and Anthos). Judges will narrow the field until the last chef standing is deemed an Iron Chef and he or she will then take their place behind the counter in the famed Kitchen Stadium to compete in the newest season of Iron Chef America.