Guilty Eats
Fansided

Food Network is hosting a new Tournament of Champions, we take a stab at the bracket

By Julian Coltre

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 26: (L-R) Amanda Freitag, Marcus Samuelsson, Alex Guamaschelli, Marc Murphy, Maneet Chauhan, Chris Santos of the television show "Chopped" for the Food Network speak during the Summer 2018 Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 26, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JULY 26: (L-R) Amanda Freitag, Marcus Samuelsson, Alex Guamaschelli, Marc Murphy, Maneet Chauhan, Chris Santos of the television show "Chopped" for the Food Network speak during the Summer 2018 Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 26, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 9
Next
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 15: Chef Michael Symon prepares a dish at the Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented By Coca-Cola – Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring Samsung® Culinary Demonstrations presented by Mastercard at Pier 94 on October 15, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for NYCWFF)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 15: Chef Michael Symon prepares a dish at the Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented By Coca-Cola – Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring Samsung® Culinary Demonstrations presented by Mastercard at Pier 94 on October 15, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for NYCWFF) /

2. Michael Symon

If you really get down to the nitty-gritty, there really is no reason why Michael Symon isn’t worthy of being the top seed in a 16 person Food Network chef bracket. He has the second most wins and best winning percentage of every Iron Chef (a whopping 34 wins and 7 losses for a 82 win percentage), he’s a James Beard award winner, he has appeared on pretty much every single Food Network cooking competition (and hosts several of his own cooking shows).

That said, whether it is personal bias, star power or just the fact that it sometimes feels as though Symon is Pippen to Bobby Flay’s Jordan, there is a reason that Symon is the 2 seed in the bracket.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 05: Chef Bobby Flay attends the grand opening of KAOS Dayclub & Nightclub at Palms Casino Resort on April 05, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for Palms Casino Resort)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 05: Chef Bobby Flay attends the grand opening of KAOS Dayclub & Nightclub at Palms Casino Resort on April 05, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for Palms Casino Resort) /

1. Bobby Flay

If you’ve stuck with the chef ranking this long then I commend you. That said, you don’t really get a reward because you had to have known that Bobby Flay was going to be the top seed in any Food Network competition bracket.

The fact is, Bobby Flay has made his TV Career through head-to-head food competitions. Whether it was Throwdown With Bobby Flay, Beat Bobby Flay or competing as an Iron Chef, Flay is the cream of the crop when it comes to facing opponent’s head on in cooking competitions. He has the most wins in Iron Chef America History, a well over .500 wins record on Beat Bobby Flay and he won a Chopped competition where competitors went head-to-head to try to face (and beat) him. In fact, if my calculations are correct, Bobby Flay’s career number of wins in Food Network cooking competitions is something like 249.

Add in the fact that, outside of Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay is the most recognizable personality on Food Network and you have the reasons as to why Flay is not only worthy of, but is the only choice for the top seed in the Food Network ultimate Tournament of Champions bracket!

Next. Fast Food: 25 worst fast food menu items ever, ranked. dark

My only hope is if Flay once again wins this Food Network competition, he then has to face host Guy Fieri in a final battle so I can finally get the ultimate “face of Food Network” showdown that I’ve wanted for years.

Home/Food TV