Michael Symon has been crowned the Next Iron Chef at the end of an eight-episode reality series that aired on the Food Network. The appointment comes on the heels of Mario Batali’s departure from the network. The rotund chef will partner with actress Gwyneth Paltrow on a Spanish cooking show on American Public TV, while Symon will go on to compete in culinary battles as part of the pantheon of Iron Chefs on the Food Network.