Episode 2 was a truly creative show.

Lets face it.... it is not easy to find new aspects of cooking... by and large we only have so many food items that we cook so many ways.. Something genuinely new is a rarity.

"The Next Iron Chef" found several new things....

First they explored some of the chemicals that have found their way out of industrial food production and into the kitchens of a few innovative chefs... I am not so interested in them....

However..... the gadgets.... oh my, the gadgets were awesome.. and I want them in my kitchen...

First there was the vacuum cooking with the immersion bath... it is new and gives some flexibility in cooking and timing... but the French have been using it for years and I dont really see the need for it at home... It is nice, and I would not turn it down... but I was not as intrigued with it as I was with say the anti-grill or the smoking gun....

The anti-grill I want.... it is a quick freeze surface that will freeze food solid in less than 90 seconds... that is so cool....

And the smoking gun... an electric gun that shoots out concentrated smoke to add smoke flavor to foods that can not be heated.... I am thinking of how much I love smoked cheeses and of how expensive they are..... and fruits.... what about some smoked peaches... cool and lush and sweet with a hint of smoke flavor.... and of course... the various meats and fish and seafood that benefit from a smoky flavor....

I am digressing ...

The competition was for the chefs to create using these new appliances, techniques and ingredients....

It was very entertaining....