I think this week’s challenger, Spike Mendholson put it best when he Twittered, “This sunday dvr the oscars and tune in live for Iron Chef America, what will the secret ingredient be???”  Mendholson is the talented young chef at Good Stuff Eatery in Washington, DC.  Waiting for him in Kitchen Stadium is the Iron Chef with best winning percentage, Michael Symon.

Spike began his culinary matriculation  in 2004 at the esteemed Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY where he distinguished himself among his peers.  Mendholson was one of 10 CIA students to accompany Chef-Instructors Michael Pardus and Michael Huynh on a culinary adventure to Vietnam.  Since then Spike’s style has had a definite Vietnamese influence.

For his externship at CIA, Mendholson did a turn at Les Crayeres in Reims, France.  Les Crayeres is a three Michelin star restaurant under the direction of Chef Gerard Boyer.  After school Spike worked at landmarks like Bouchon and Le Cirque.  Eventually he found himself working for his former teacher, Chef Huynh at the Drew Nieporent venture Mai House in Tribeca.

Today Spike Mendholson is not only the force behind Washington DC’s Good Stuff Eatery but he is also a celebrity host of Food 2, the Internet alter-ego of The Food Network.  There he is the co-host of Kelsey & Spike Cook with the should-be winner of the Next Food Network Star 4, Kelsey Nixon.  Spike came to national prominence when he was a contestant on Top Chef: Chicago.

Click HERE for the mystery ingredient and outcome.