This October, Food Network cranks up the burners -- and the stakes -- in Kitchen Stadium with The Next Iron Chef, a new reality show that will award one chef with the world's most coveted culinary title: Iron Chef. Eight top chefs from around the country will compete to join the ranks of Mario Batali, Cat Cora, Bobby Flay and Masahuru Morimoto and be launched into instant fame. The sizzling primetime series kicks-off on Sunday, October 7th at 9pm ET/PT.


"This will be the most impressive array of culinary skill gathered on one Food Network series," said Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production. "With each battle, the chefs will demonstrate the awe- inspiring talents that have already earned them awards and acclaim locally and nationally."


The eight contestants are: John Besh (Executive Chef, Restaurant August, Besh Steak, Luke and La Provence, New Orleans, LA); Chris Cosentino (Executive Chef, Incanto, San Francisco, CA); Jill Davie (Executive Chef, JOSIE, Santa Monica, CA); Traci Des Jardins (Executive Chef & Co-Owner, Jardiniere, Mijita and Acme Chophouse, San Francisco, CA); Gavin Kaysen (Chef de Cuisine, El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego, CA); Morou Ouattara (Executive Chef & Owner, Farrah Olivi, Washington, DC); Aaron Sanchez (Executive Chef & Owner, Centrico and Paladar, New York, NY), and Michael Symon (Executive Chef & Owner, Lola and Lolita, Cleveland, OH).


The six episodes will take the contestants from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY to Europe -- with the help of international airline Lufthansa -- to compete in the food fight of their professional lives. Over the course of the show, the judges -- Michael Ruhlman (James Beard Foundation Award-winning author, cookbook author and food writer), Andrew Knowlton (Restaurant Editor of Bon Appetit magazine) and Donatella Arpaia (restaurateur and owner of acclaimed New York City restaurants davidburke&donatella and Anthos) -- will ask the chefs to demonstrate their speed, artistry, flair for simplicity, innovation, resourcefulness, creativity under pressure and leadership skills as they strive to attain greatness in the form of becoming America's Next Iron Chef.


The winner will be revealed during the series' finale on Sunday, November 11th, at 9pm ET/PT and will begin their reign as Iron Chef with the premiere of the new season of Iron Chef America on Sunday, November 18, 2007. The Next Iron Chef is produced by Triage Entertainment in conjunction with Food Network and is based partially on the format Iron Chef owned by Fuji Television Network, Inc.