Today's Entertainment

As a floor reporter and one-time competitor on Food Network's "Iron Chef America," chef Jet Tila is uniquely qualified to relay how it feels to perform in the pressure-packed confines of Kitchen Stadium – and to help the contestants cope. "Before every show," the Los Angeles- based chef, restaurateur, consultant and cookbook author says, "I would make it a point to say hello to every chef, every sous chef and just say, 'Hey, this is who I am. You're gonna be great. I've been here before. Have a good time.' ... Because the problem is you will worry to the point where you're not going to focus on your food, because there are so many other things happening at the same time." As the venerable competition series returns with the first of 10 episodes on Sunday, May 20, Tila joins host Alton Brown and the Chairman (Marc Dacascos) to comment on the action as up-and- coming chefs square off with elite Iron Chefs in turning secret ingredients into extraordinary creations, with the final products being evaluated by two guest judges. In Wednesday's opener, Richmond, Va., chef Brittany Anderson vies with Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, with Antonia Lofaso and Simon Majumdar presiding as judges. As for his own experience on "Iron Chef America," Tila recalls his appearance in 2009 competing with and eventually losing to Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto as nerve- wracking. But on the plus side, he says that kind of pressure forges bonds quickly, as did happen between him and his opponent. "We are all united by what we do," Tila explains, "but to actually spend time in the arena together brings you actually even closer. And it's kind of one of those things like, 'Hey, great battle.' You exchange your numbers, you exchange emails and then when you visit each other's businesses, each other's restaurants. You know I've made friends for life. "Alton and I are very close, " he continues. "We have matching tattoos, for God's sake. You know, colleagues became really great friends. So I think that's another fun thing to watch, is the evolution of: You're my opponent, and then by the end of this hour, you usually end up being my friend and sometimes even better than just a good friend. There are so many layers of this show that are amazing for a chef, hopefully maybe I can help bring that out." Jet Tila BY GEORGE DICKIE Pressure forges bonds among competitors on 'Iron Chef America' Page 8 May 21 - 27, 2018 On or Off-Site Catering All Occasions Dine under the glow of gas lanterns Breakfast and Lunch Meals also available Open Tuesday through Saturday Nobody Knows Our Hometown Better! Safe and Dependable Delivery of your Freight Get paid to deliver vehicles throughout the U.S & Canada. Retiring does not have to be scary. We have vehicles for every license type. CALL US TODAY! See America & Supplement your income!

• Cover