Chen Kenichi
Encyclopedia
, whose name is often romanized Chin Kenichi in Japanese sources, is a Han Chinese
chef
best known for his role as the Iron Chef Chinese on the television series Iron Chef
. He wears a yellow outfit and rises into Kitchen Stadium holding a cleaver
in his hand. He is the only Iron Chef to have held his position throughout the life of the show. He was born in Japan to ethnic Han Chinese parents of Japanese nationality
and his formal name is .
, who is regarded as the father of Sichuan cuisine in Japan
. Chen's special dish, "Prawn
s in Chili Sauce
" (Ebi Chili
), is an adaptation of a dish that his father had introduced to Japan. As a result, Chen is often compared to his father on the series, with some saying that Iron Chef helped the son exceed the skills of his father.
who convinced Chen to stay, with their agreement that should one leave the show, so would the other.
Because of his long tenure, Chen has fought more battles than any of the other Iron Chefs, a whopping 92 battles. He won 67, lost 22, and tied 3. He also has a run of 14 consecutive victories, the longest of any Iron Chef. His most memorable dish was Chili Prawns.
Despite his excellent record on the show, Chen often appeared endearingly surprised and relieved at victory. Arguably, his win over Japanese
-Italian
-French
"fusion"-style chef Juinichi Itoh in the yogurt battle exemplifies this. He was also remarkable for his frequent tasting of food, frequently dipping his ladle into steaming concoctions for sampling, only to place the same ladle back in the food. The commentators to the show referred to this practice in humor as Chen's 'eating.'
, where, after the main battle (with foie gras
as the theme ingredient) was fought to a tie, the overtime battle (with asparagus
as the theme) also resulted in a tie — the only time that such an outcome occurred in the series. Rather than have Chen and Corby fight a second overtime battle, Chairman Kaga, the show's host, decreed that both contestants were the winners.
As with other Iron Chefs, Chen has "feuded" with a faction determined to take him down. In his case, he battled with the chefs of Heichinrou
restaurant in Yokohama
, defeating two of their number before finally losing to their head chef.
Outside of Iron Chef, Chen also runs the Shisen Hanten (四川飯店; lit. "Sichuan
restaurant") group of restaurants found in Akasaka
, Ikebukuro
, Roppongi
, Tokushima
, Kure (Hiroshima Prefecture)
, Matsuyama
and Hakata
. The restaurant was inherited from his father and he is currently the third to run it after his mother took over.
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
best known for his role as the Iron Chef Chinese on the television series Iron Chef
Iron Chef
is a Japanese television cooking show produced by Fuji Television. The series, which premiered on October 10, 1992, is a stylized cook-off featuring guest chefs challenging one of the show's resident "Iron Chefs" in a timed cooking battle built around a specific theme ingredient. The series ended...
. He wears a yellow outfit and rises into Kitchen Stadium holding a cleaver
Cleaver (knife)
A cleaver is a large knife that varies in its shape but usually resembles a rectangular-bladed hatchet. It is used mostly for hacking through bones as a kitchen knife or butcher knife, and can also be used for crushing via its broad side, typically garlic....
in his hand. He is the only Iron Chef to have held his position throughout the life of the show. He was born in Japan to ethnic Han Chinese parents of Japanese nationality
Chinese people in Japan
Chinese people in Japan consist of migrants from China to Japan and their descendants. They have a history going back for centuries.- Population and distribution :...
and his formal name is .
Biography
Chen is the son of Chen KenminChen Kenmin
Chen Kenmin was a Japanese chef of Chinese origin, also known as the father of Chen Kenichi, the Iron Chef Chinese on the television show Iron Chef....
, who is regarded as the father of Sichuan cuisine in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Chen's special dish, "Prawn
Prawn
Prawns are decapod crustaceans of the sub-order Dendrobranchiata. There are 540 extant species, in seven families, and a fossil record extending back to the Devonian...
s in Chili Sauce
Chili sauce
Chili sauce is a condiment, similar to ketchup but with onion, garlic, and spice. Despite its name, it does not contain chili peppers and thus is not hot....
" (Ebi Chili
Ebi Chili
Ebi Chili is a Japanese dish derived from China's Szechuan cuisine. It consists of stir-fried shrimp in chilli sauce....
), is an adaptation of a dish that his father had introduced to Japan. As a result, Chen is often compared to his father on the series, with some saying that Iron Chef helped the son exceed the skills of his father.
Iron Chef
Chen originally accepted his position on Iron Chef out of the need for a challenge, although the format of the show had intrigued him. Despite the fact that he is the longest-serving Iron Chef and the only original Iron Chef, having been an Iron Chef for the series' six-year run, Chen had on several occasions considered leaving his position (among his reasons was the desire to tend to his restaurants, which had become booked every night since the show's beginning, as well as a bout of depression following the death of his mother). Ultimately, it was fellow Iron Chef Hiroyuki SakaiHiroyuki Sakai
is a well-known Japanese chef who specializes in French cuisine. Sakai is most famous for being the second, and last, Iron Chef French on the Japanese television show Iron Chef, first appearing at the beginning of 1994 and continued his appearance in shows over nine seasons...
who convinced Chen to stay, with their agreement that should one leave the show, so would the other.
Because of his long tenure, Chen has fought more battles than any of the other Iron Chefs, a whopping 92 battles. He won 67, lost 22, and tied 3. He also has a run of 14 consecutive victories, the longest of any Iron Chef. His most memorable dish was Chili Prawns.
Despite his excellent record on the show, Chen often appeared endearingly surprised and relieved at victory. Arguably, his win over Japanese
Japanese cuisine
Japanese cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes throughout Japan. The cuisine eventually changed with the advent of the Medieval age which ushered in a shedding of elitism with the age of shogun rule...
-Italian
Italian cuisine
Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Jewish and Arab cuisines...
-French
French cuisine
French cuisine is a style of food preparation originating from France that has developed from centuries of social change. In the Middle Ages, Guillaume Tirel , a court chef, authored Le Viandier, one of the earliest recipe collections of Medieval France...
"fusion"-style chef Juinichi Itoh in the yogurt battle exemplifies this. He was also remarkable for his frequent tasting of food, frequently dipping his ladle into steaming concoctions for sampling, only to place the same ladle back in the food. The commentators to the show referred to this practice in humor as Chen's 'eating.'
Memorable matches
Among one of his more memorable matches was one with challenger Dominique Corby of the Tour d'ArgentTour d'Argent
La Tour d'Argent is a restaurant in Paris, France.The restaurant's own site claims that it was founded in 1582 and frequented by Henri IV. However, neither the restaurant nor any cabaret, inn, etc...
, where, after the main battle (with foie gras
Foie gras
Foie gras ; French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This fattening is typically achieved through gavage corn, according to French law, though outside of France it is occasionally produced using natural feeding...
as the theme ingredient) was fought to a tie, the overtime battle (with asparagus
Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis is a spring vegetable, a flowering perennialplant species in the genus Asparagus. It was once classified in the lily family, like its Allium cousins, onions and garlic, but the Liliaceae have been split and the onion-like plants are now in the family Amaryllidaceae and...
as the theme) also resulted in a tie — the only time that such an outcome occurred in the series. Rather than have Chen and Corby fight a second overtime battle, Chairman Kaga, the show's host, decreed that both contestants were the winners.
As with other Iron Chefs, Chen has "feuded" with a faction determined to take him down. In his case, he battled with the chefs of Heichinrou
Heichinrou
Heichinrou , is a Chinese restaurant based in the Chinatown of Yokohama, Japan. It is privately held and the oldest operating Chinese restaurant in Japan. Zhang family had first started the restaurant and operated for two generations, then Bao family for three generations until Tatsuo Hayashi ...
restaurant in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, defeating two of their number before finally losing to their head chef.
- Takashi Saito (not to be confused with the baseball playerTakashi Saitois a Japanese professional baseball player.Saito previously pitched for the Yokohama BayStars in the Japanese Central League, compiling a record of 87–80 over 13 seasons...
), top apprentice of Chen KenminChen KenminChen Kenmin was a Japanese chef of Chinese origin, also known as the father of Chen Kenichi, the Iron Chef Chinese on the television show Iron Chef....
, and coach of Chen Kenichi. Chen beat his tutor in a prawn battle. Saito recreated Kenmin's original prawns in chili sauce, while Kenichi created his father's modern version of the dish (Canapé Style with ketchup).
- Junichi Itoh, had one of the most interesting cooking styles in the world. He started French cooking at age 18 and left for France at age 28 to further his skills. However, he left for Italy three years later and joined Enoteca Pincchiori, the same place Masahiko KobeMasahiko Kobeis a chef specializing in Italian cuisine, most notable as the "Iron Chef Italian" on the television series Iron Chef, where he appeared wearing a chef's uniform decorated like the Italian Flag and holding a tomato...
was trained. At age 32, he began training at a top Japanese restaurant to learn Japanese style cuisine. When he was 35, he opened his restaurant Herle Quin in Tokyo, Japan. His French-Italian-Japanese fusion style cooking led Takeshi KagaTakeshi Kagais a well-known stage and movie actor in Japan who is probably best known internationally for his portrayal of Chairman Kaga in the Japanese television show Iron Chef produced by Fuji TV. His real name is .-Biography:...
to ask him to be a challenger. Itoh accepted and went to Kitchen Stadium with Asako KishiAsako KishiAsako Kishi is a Japanese journalist who specializes in cooking.-Career:Kishi graduated from Kagawa Nutrition University in 1942. She joined the Shufunotomo company in 1955, and started her writing career while raising her four children...
. To everyone's surprise he chose Chen Kenichi as the opponent, saying he is interested in Chinese cuisine, but had never been trained at it. Kaga chose a difficult theme ingredient, plain yoghurtYoghurtYoghurt, yogurt or yogourt is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yoghurt are known as "yoghurt cultures"...
. Itoh was smiling while Chen was under great pressure. However, according to Kishi's comments at the end, all of Itoh's dishes used the yoghurt as a supporting ingredient instead of the main focus of the dish. This resulted in all four judges voting for Chen. This was quite a surprise to Chen, who pointed to himself in disbelief.
Outside Iron Chef
Chen is an avid baseball fan and states that it would have been his choice to go professional but opted not to.Outside of Iron Chef, Chen also runs the Shisen Hanten (四川飯店; lit. "Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
restaurant") group of restaurants found in Akasaka
Akasaka, Tokyo
is a residential and commercial district of Minato, Tokyo, located west of the government center in Nagatachō and north of the Roppongi nightlife district....
, Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro
is a commercial and entertainment district in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. Toshima ward offices, Ikebukuro station, and several shops, restaurants, and enormous department stores are located within city limits....
, Roppongi
Roppongi
is a district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan, famous as home to the rich Roppongi Hills area and an active night club scene. Many foreign embassies are located in Roppongi, and the night life is popular with locals and foreigners alike...
, Tokushima
Tokushima, Tokushima
is the capital city of Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku island in Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city had an estimated population of 263,372, with 114,325 households, and a population density of 1,377.25 persons per km². Its total area is 191.23 km²....
, Kure (Hiroshima Prefecture)
Kure, Hiroshima
is a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 240,820 and a population density of 681 persons per km². The total area is 353.74 km².- History :...
, Matsuyama
Matsuyama, Ehime
is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture on the Shikoku island of Japan. It is located on the northeastern portion of the Dōgo Plain. Its name means "pine mountain." The city was founded on December 15, 1889....
and Hakata
Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is best known as the location of Fukuoka's main train station, Hakata Station.-Geography:...
. The restaurant was inherited from his father and he is currently the third to run it after his mother took over.
External links
- Iron Chef Battle Database (in English)
- Szechwan Restaurant in Japanese