The 30% Iron Chef

The 30% Iron Chef
Season	3
Episode	54
Episode Information
Production Code	3ACV22
Air date	April 14, 2002
Opening subtitle	If Accidentally Watched, Induce Vomiting
Opening cartoon	"Toys Will Be Toys"
Credits
Written By	Ron Hughart
Directed By	Jeff Westbrook
Episode Guide
Preceded by	"Future Stock"
Followed by	"Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch"

"I don't mean to offend Bender, but this food actually tastes better as vomit!"

―Fry

Plot

Bender cooks for the Planet Express crew and the meals he produces are awful. Also, Zoidberg damages a ship-in-a-bottle that Professor Farnsworth has made. He frames Fry for the damage and the Professor demands that Fry pay $10 for the material cost.

Running away, Bender hopes Elzar will teach him how to cook, but Elzar refuses. Following two hobos, Bender lands on the biggest hobo joint in the universe, Bumbase Alpha. There Bender meets Helmut Spargle, a legendary cook who lost his television show when Elzar replaced him after his show's sponsor needed a younger host. Sparkle begins to teach Bender how to cook in order to get revenge.

Helmut Spargle

Once Bender is finished with his training he accidentally kills Spargel by causing his stomach to explode with the meal he made. With his dying breath, Sparkle reveals the secret to great cooking and gives him a liquid to use whenever he needs to spice up a food, the essence of pure flavor.

Bender challenges Elzar to a cook-off on Iron Cook, a coliseum studio. He applies the liquid that Sparkle gave him and wins. During the contest, Zoidberg becomes remorseful for framing Fry when Fry is unable to pay for a commemorative turkey baster. Zoidberg publicly apologizes before trying to commit suicide honorably using a ceremonial Wakizashi, only to damage the sword and blame Fry.

When the Professor examines the liquid in the bottle Sparkle gave Bender, it turns out the liquid was water laced with LSD. The episode closes with the characters joyfully anticipating a brunch prepared with plenty of Bender's new found "confidence".

Trivia

• Chairman Koji's line, "domo arigato, Mr. Roboto" is a reference to the song "Mr. Roboto" by the band Styx.
• Bender's training montage has references to Star Wars and The Karate Kid.
• When Bender and the two hobos are on the "space train", the names on the cars are spoofs of two former American railroads:

1. "Baltimore and Orion" is a spoof off of "Baltimore and Ohio".
2. "Wrath-of-Conrail" is a spoof off of "Conrail".

• Also one of the cars has "Starlight Express" written on it.
• This episode parodies the culinary challenge show, Iron Chef, where 2 chefs compete to make the best meal using a secret ingredient. The show has a cult following in America, popular for its sometimes comical voice overs and strange meals. The title also references the fact that Bender is 30% iron, a quote directly from the episode
• Ethan 'Bubblegum' Tate says "Konnichiwa brother!" to Hiroki. Konnichiwa (こんにちは) means "good day" in Japanese.
• Hiroki says "Domo arigato, Mr Roboto." to Bender
  • Dōmo arigatō (どうもありがとう) means "Thank you very much in Japanese.
  • The line "Dōmo arigatō, Mr. Roboto" appeares in Mr. Roboto song by Styx. The line has become a catche phrase.

Debut Appearances

• Koji
• Helmut Spargle
• Hiroki
• Martha Stewart's head
• Space Hobos

Alienese

• The Alienese signs read, "Used Human Probes" and "Iron Cook".