Iron Chef America is the ultimate cooking challenge. Every episode, a professional chef enters the magnificent Kitchen Stadium, to do battle with the fiercest culinary competitors on the face of the planet.

But just who are these Iron Chefs, and what makes them so formidable? Let’s take a look at the “veritable pantheon of culinary giants”:

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto

After receiving training in sushi and Kaseki in Japan, Morimoto opened his first restaurant in Hokkaido in 1980. After five years, he moved to the US, working in a variety of restaurants including a celebrated stint as head chef of the renowned Nobu in New York City.

Specialising in new Asian cuisine and seafood, Morimoto is an Iron Chef veteran. He’s the only Iron Chef to have appeared on both the Japanese and the American versions of the show, and he boasts a formidable record of 38 wins in both series.

In addition to dominating kitchen stadium, Morimoto runs his own culinary empire, including restaurants in New York, Mumbai and a Michelin-starred sushi and teppanyaki bar in Tokyo.  


Iron Chef Bobby Flay

This hot-headed competitor is a master of chili and all things spicy. After graduating from the French culinary institute in 1984, Flay went on to build a restaurant empire in New York and Las Vegas. His renowned Mesa Grill currently boasts three locations, including a Las Vegas location that earned a Michelin star in 2008.

Flay has a prodigious work ethic and a taste for the spotlight. In addition to his role as an Iron Chef, he appears in several other shows on the Food Network, including Boy Meets Grill, BBQ with Bobby Flay, Throwdown! with Bobby Flay and Grill It! with Bobby Flay.


Iron Chef Michael Symon

A veteran of the New York restaurant scene, Symon made his Iron Chef debut as the first winner of The Next Iron Chef.

An intimidating character, Symon brings some serious trash talk to the kitchen and backs it up with big flavours from his Mediterranean heritage.
Symon currently boasts an impressive record of 26 wins, 5 losses and one draw.





Iron Chef Cat Cora

The only female chef among the Iron Chefs, Cat Cora was trained at the American Culinary Institute and mentored by the legendary Julia Child. She then embarked on a career that included stints at legendary New York restaurants and three-starred culinary temples in France.

Specialising in Greek flavours, Cora’s Kouzzina boasts a location on Disneyland’s boardwalk. She is also well-known for her charity work and is one of the founders of hunger-relief group Chefs for Humanity.

Challengers in Kitchen Stadium shouldn’t expect any charity from her, however. She currently has a record of 21 wins to 12 losses, with one draw.  


Iron Chef Jose Garces

The founder of a restaurant empire specialising in Latin American cuisine, Chef Garces proved himself under pressure by winning season two of The Next Iron Chef.

With his win/loss record currently standing at 9 and 5, he will be eager to make the most of his second season on the show and claim his true place in the culinary pantheon.





Iron Chef Marc Forgione

The son of the man often referred to as “the godfather of New American Cusine”, Chef Forgione took his place in Kitchen Stadium after winning season three of The Next Iron Chef.

He cut his teeth in the world of New York steakhouses, where he raised BLT Steak to the top of a very competitive pile.

In addition to working as head corporate chef for the BLT group, Forgione became the youngest American chef to earn three consecutive Michelin stars, awarded to his eponymous Restaurant Marc Forgione. He was named “Star Chefs Rising Star of the Year” and has garnered mentions in Forbes and Esquire, among others.

If you've got an appetite for some serious cooking, don't miss Iron Chef America S9, Mon 6 Aug at 19:20 on Food Network.