A cult Japanese television show wherein a trio of world-renowed chefs (a quartet later in the show), each a master a particular culinary style of cooking, would do "battle" against challenger chefs from around the world to see who could create the most innovative and delectable dishes from a randomly chosen theme ingredient. The show ended its six-year run in late 1999, but is still aired in syndication on
the Food Network.
Also, special once-a-year episodes are still being produced. The
Morimoto/
Bobby Flay battle in New York City is a prime example.
Original Iron Chef Japanese: Rokusaburo Michiba
Second Iron Chef Japanese: Komei Nakamura
Third Iron Chef Japanese: Masaharu
Morimoto
Original Iron Chef French: Yutake Ishinabe
Second Iron Chef French:
Hiroyuki Sakai
Iron Chef Italian: Masahiko Kobe
Iron Chef Chinese:
Kenichi Chin ("Chen Kenichi" is the result of horrible dubbing, in case you're wondering about that)