Chen Kenichi
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- This is a Chinese name; the family name is Chen
| Born | January 5, 1956 Tokyo, Japan <tr><th>Cooking style</th><td>Chinese</td></tr><tr><th>Education</th><td>University</td></tr><tr><th>Restaurants</th><td>Shisen Hanten group of restaurants found in Akasaka, Ikebukuro, Roppongi, Tokushima, Kure (Hiroshima Prefecture), Matsuyama and Hakata.</td></tr><tr><th>TV Show(s)</th><td>Iron Chef</td></tr> |
|---|---|
Chen Kenichi (Traditional Chinese: 陳建一; Simplified Chinese: 陈建一; pinyin: Chén Jiànyī; Japanese: Chin Ken'ichi, born January 5, 1956 in Tokyo, Japan), whose name is often romanized Chin Kenichi in Japanese sources, is a Chinese chef best known for his role as the Iron Chef Chinese on the television series Iron Chef. He wears a yellow outfit and holds a cleaver in his introduction. He is the only Iron Chef to have held his position throughout the life of the show.
Chen is the son of Chen Kenmin, who is regarded as the father of Sichuan cuisine in Japan. His special dish, "Prawns 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 the father.
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, 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). Ultimately, it was fellow Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai 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. Among one of his more memorable matches was one with challenger Dominique Corby of the Tour d'Argent, where, after the main battle was fought to a tie, the overtime battle also resulted in a tie - the only time that such an outcome happened in the series; Chairman Kaga, the show's host, then decreed that both contestants were the winners.
Outside of Iron Chef, Chen also runs the Shisen Hanten group of restaurants found in Akasaka, Ikebukuro, Roppongi, Tokushima, Kure (Hiroshima Prefecture), Matsuyama and Hakata.
Despite his excellent record on the show, Mr. Chen appeared endearingly surprised and relieved at victory. 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.'
[edit] External links
- Iron Chef Battle Database (in English)
| Preceded by: N/A | Iron Chef Chinese October 17, 1993 - September 24, 1999 | Succeeded by: N/A |
