"Heat and Meat" Fun Facts — The Next Iron Chef

The Next Iron Chef Episode 1 Heat and Meat Challenge

NIC4 Episode 1 Chairman's Challenge

Rival-Chef Chuck Hughes and Rival-Chef Michael Chiarello cooking as a team in Episode 1 Chairman's Challenge "Heat and Meat" as seen on Food Network Next Iron Chef Season 4.

Photo by: Edward Chen/Creel Films ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Edward Chen/Creel Films, 2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Behind the scenes on the Next Iron Chef, Food Network’s culinary production team is responsible for making sure that the rival chefs have everything they need to cook and present their dishes — from a stocked pantry to plenty of serving vessels. They shared some fun facts about what it took to pull off the “Heat and Meat” challenge in episode one.

What materials were purchased for the chefs to create heat in the wilderness?

Wood: 2,000 pounds
Fire-safe bricks: 200
Stainless-steel sheet metal: 550 pounds
Rebar rods (carbon steel rods): 25 feet
plates from episode 1 heat and meat challenge

NIC4 Episode 1 Chairman's Challenge

Rival-Chef's plates for Episode 1 Chairman's Challenge "Heat and Meat" as seen on Food Network Next Iron Chef Season 4.

Photo by: Edward Chen/Creel Films ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Edward Chen/Creel Films, 2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Other than the fire pits and wood, bricks and metal, what was provided for each chef team to cook with?

One cast-iron camp oven
Two bowls
Two cutting boards
Two cast-iron skillets
Cast-iron grill grates
Two gallons of water

What did you do with the five fire pits that were purchased for the challenge once it was over?

They were donated to a group of Boy Scouts who were camping in the area the following weekend.

More behind-the-scenes extras from the Super Chefs premiere:

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