Crenn, Appleman Among New Iron Chef Wannabes

The rumors are true(ish), and Nate Appleman is indeed going to be one of the ten contestants on the second season of The Next Iron Chef. Earlier today, the Food Network announced the new cast of hopefuls, and there's a second familiar face too: Dominique Crenn of Luce. Luce debuted last year and for the most part, has flown under the local radar since then; it received an average Bauer review, but did make headlines with its Mariani accolades this fall. Regardless, the show could provide a nice platform for Crenn—and Appleman, for that matter—to strut their stuff, and hey, some people think it might even be watchable.

The ten contestants; pick your pony:

Nate Appleman (Chef/Butcher, New York, NY)

Dominique Crenn (Chef de Cuisine, Luce, San Francisco, CA)

Brad Farmerie (Executive Chef, Double Crown, Madam Geneva, PUBLIC and The Monday Room, New York, NY)

Amanda Freitag (Executive Chef, The Harrison, New York, NY)

Jose Garces (Executive Chef & Owner, Amada, Tinto, Distrito, Chifa, Philadelphia, PA)

Eric Greenspan (Executive Chef & Owner, The Foundry on Melrose, Los Angeles, CA)

Jehangir Mehta (Executive Chef & Owner, Graffiti, New York, NY)

Seamus Mullen (Executive Chef & Partner, Boqueria Flatiron and Boqueria Soho, New York, NY),

Holly Smith (Chef & Owner, Cafe Juanita and Poco Carretto Gelato, Kirkland, WA)

Roberto Treviño (Executive Chef & Owner, Budatai, San Juan, PR)