I don't know how prepped for the challenge on Throwdown the real chefs/cooks are. I honestly believe that when the series started they hadn't known what was coming down.
But, seriously, by this time, if FoodTV shows up at your doorstep saying they're doing a special or a new series and they want you to be the star, I'd start looking around for a redhead with his own camera crew.
At least Flay loses (and loses graciously) most of the time.