Over on HuffPo, Alinea's Grant Achatz says it's to heat the hell out of a (IMPORTANT: NOT non-stick) pan. Here is The accompanying video, which does not seem especially enlightening but does have frantic music, [UPDATE] won't even show up here but isn't really worth watching anyway. Anybody had luck with the ultra-hot-pan method of steak-cooking?

(And if you haven't read this New Yorker profile of Grant Achatz, you should.)