ONE OF THE TV shows we watch pretty regularly at home is ?Iron Chef America? on the Lifestyle Network (Saturdays at 6 p.m.). For the past few weeks, the culinary challenge has been taking a new track: Eight gifted chefs competing to become the show?s fifth Iron Chef (or top cooking guru), joining the exclusive ?club? of Masaharu Morimoto, Cat Cora, Bobby Flay and Mario Batali.

The eight contenders were really put through the wringer, pressured to come up with culinary masterpieces despite severe restrictions. It was sad and yet instructive to note that the female bets were among the first to go.

Innovations

As the field narrowed down to the final two, viewers saw that cooking ability is not just a matter of talent and creativity, but also of mastery of the basics and the latest technological innovations in the kitchen. Above all, ?Iron? Chefs can be relied on to produce awesome dishes in the worst possible conditions.

The competition to become the fifth Iron Chef also showed how some chefs? personality quirks and excessively competitive bent often turned out to be counterproductive, because they ticked off both contestants and judges alike, and assured the combative chefs? defeat.

These life lessons can be valuable for everybody, not just prospective Iron Chefs. As we cook up our ploys and schemes in our own lives, we should remind ourselves of these lessons vicariously learned?as food for thought.

Last week, the search?s finals were held, with John Besh and Michael Symon squaring off as prospective Iron Chefs. They came up with creative variations on swordfish dishes, some of which we made a mental note to recreate at home. That?s one of the reasons why we watch ?Iron Chef America? (and the original Japanese ?Iron Chef? show, for that matter): To pick up ideas and tips that can make us better cooks at home.

Last round

To make the finals even more special, it was decided at the last minute that the last round should be judged?by three of the four Iron Chefs themselves! Of course, Besh and Symon were thrilled to death?and the finals? original judges were also put in their place, because their snitty comments were turning viewers off (us, included).

Besh put up a good fight, but it was decided that Symon was made of sterner Iron Chef stuff, and he won the tilt. Thus, he?ll be seen in future telecasts of the show, helping maintain the culinary standards that have made the program so popular with foodies. Yum, yum!