Bobby Flay Says This Iconic Show Launched The Golden Era Of Food TV

"The golden age is now," declared Bobby Flay, celebrity chef and star of the hit cook-off competition series "Beat Bobby Flay" when asked by the online food publication and YouTube channel "First We Feast" about when he thought the golden age of food television was. Flay explained that Food Network's early show format was simple chef demonstrations — that is, until "Iron Chef" made its debut. "'Iron Chef' changed the game," he said. 

Classic Food Network shows until that point were fairly straightforward, with a chef educating their audience on cooking techniques, with a couple of exceptions — like Emeril Legasse and Paula Deen, who cooked in front of a live studio audience and had a huge fanbase.

But the legacy of "Iron Chef America" defined the current food TV landscape. The show got its start in Japan in 1993, called "Ironmen of Cooking" in Japanese, and it was the first show of its kind. It was hosted by Takeshi Kaga, a fictional character who, according to "Iron Chef" lore, was an eccentric millionaire whose castle contained a "Kitchen Stadium" to host cook-offs between world-famous chefs. The campy show pitted chefs against each other for cooking speed and skill using surprise ingredients — and garnered a cult following in the U.S. Inspired by its success, Food Network picked up the show and aired an English-dubbed version. The bold, unusual competition turned cooking into a sport, asking, "Whose cuisine will reign supreme?"

In 2000, "Iron Chef" came to New York City, where Food Network star Bobby Flay and "Iron Chef" star Masaharu Morimoto faced off. The show drew thousands of viewers spurring Food Network to create its own version of the show, "Iron Chef America," using celebrity chefs they already had, like Ming Tsai, Cat Cora, and Mario Batali. "Iron Chef America" was hosted by Alton Brown, who narrated the competition play by play like a sportscaster, and it ran for 14 years from 2005 to 2018, producing 249 episodes, and changing food TV forever.

"Iron Chef America," simultaneously educational and fun, turned even more Americans on to food. Food Network's most successful franchise resulted in viewership for its other food shows skyrocketing, too. It spurred the rise of foodie culture and a general shift in seeking out interesting and diverse eating and cooking experiences.

"Iron Chef America" inspired additional shows like "Guy's Grocery Games" that brought the competition element and food together. Other reality-based shows followed, including "Cutthroat Kitchen," "Best Thing I Ever Ate," and "The Kitchen." But the legacy of "Iron Chef" is that it changed how Americans view food — more than nourishment, it can be an intense, almost athletic challenge.