Tips for Hosting an Iron Chef Party

Plan your next Iron Chef party and get ready to organize a fun time for all! Do your research in advance about this popular show where contestants compete in a cooking competition. Plan this dinner party theme to liven up your next event, such as a birthday, housewarming, girls night, or cooking contest party.

Try these Iron Chef party ideas and be sure to follow the Iron Chef rules!

Decide on the Challenge:

• Ask guests to bring either an appetizer, main course, or dessert made out of a feature ingredient you specify for the cooking competition party. For example, host a party and require that guests only bring items made with strawberries as one of the main ingredients.

Create Teams:

• Gather a group of four or more people to compete in the cooking challenge party. Decide whether each person will compete individually, or in groups. Try to create four teams, with 2-4 people on each team.

Rules:

• Establish a price limit for the ingredients and make it clear that each contest or group will supply the ingredients.
• Assign each contestant or group one burner on the stove.
• Make guests aware that the amount of time given to prepare the meal at your residence will only be 30 minutes. Require that all items with a longer cooking time be made in advance of the Iron Chef party, and brought pre-cooked.
• Require that all guests arrive promptly at the party.
• Require that all guests bring their own cooking supplies, such as bowls and utensils.
• Ask all contestants or groups to label their dishes, once complete.
• Reserve 15-20 minutes for clean-up at the end of the competition.

Judging:

• Appoint three people (not contestants) as the judges.
• Base the Iron Chef judging criteria on taste, presentation, and use of the feature ingredient.
• Require that judges fill out official scorecards, provided by the host or hostess.
• Do not make the judges aware of which contestants cooked which plates.
• Tally the points at the end of the meal, and reveal which contestants cooked which meals.

Prizes:
Require a $5 fee to attend or participate in the party. Award the money to the winner of the Iron Chef contest. Alternatively, spray paint a wooden spoon gold and write the date of the party on the handle. The winner can take this home and display it in his or her kitchen!

Incorporate other cooking party ideas into the Iron Chef party in order to suit your individual preferences. For especially delectable dishes, require that the contestants leave the leftovers behind for you and your family to enjoy even after the cooking contest party!