The battle has been joined and after Sunday night's round of Food Network's 'The Next Iron Chef,' there are just five contestants left in the competition. It was an intense episode and the judges made their final decision by the thinnest of margins.

Two challenges were put to the contestants. The theme of the night was respect, and in the first challenge, the secret ingredient was potatoes. For the second challenge, the test was much more daunting: Create four dishes that exemplify the four regions of America -- north, south, east and west -- in just 90 minutes ... keeping in mind that respect is the key.

To learn how the challenge played out and who will not be 'The Next Iron Chef,' read on. Also, we've been fortunate enough to get an exit interview with the chef. Learn how it feels to be so close to your dream, only to learn that you've missed it by so very little.