From Setsuko Yoshizuka,
Your Guide to Japanese Food.
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Iron Chef is a cooking battle show created by FUJI-TV in Japan. This show is called Ryori-no-tetsujin in Japanese. Tetsujin (iron chefs) have extraordinary cooking skills and are chosen for the status by the producer of the show. In each episode, a challenger and one of the iron chefs cook a course meal within an hour. They must include the ingredient of the day, which are announced each time, in all dishes.

The studio is equipped with all kinds of kitchen tools and appliances, and all sorts of ingredients are prepared for the chefs. The winner is selected by four judges. Even if a challenger wins against an iron chef, he/she doesn't become an iron chef. Winning challengers just get the honor of defeating an iron chef.

Iron Chef was aired in Japan from Oct. 1993 to Oct. 1999. Food Network TV broadcasts this show with English subtitles and dubbings in the US and Canada. The chefs demonstrate dynamic and artistic cooking techniques.

Iron chefs represent different style of cooking: Japanese, French, Italian, and Chinese. I will introduce the chefs and their restaurants.

Iron Chef JAPANESE

• The first: ROKUSABURO MICHIBA (retired from the show)
  Poisson Rokusaburo in Akasaka, Tokyo. (2min. walk from Akasaka Station.)
  Plaza Mikado Building 1F&B1F
  03-5570-6317
  
• The second: KOMEI NAKAMURA (retired from the show)
  Nadaman Komei in Shibuya, Tokyo. (5min. walk from Shibuya Station.)
  Tokyu Honten Department 8F
  03-3477-3655
  
• The third: MASAHARU MORIMOTO
  Morimoto in Philadelphia, PA. At 7th and Chestnut Street.
  *Mr. Morimoto used to work at Nobu in New York City, which is located at 105 Hudson Street.

Iron Chef FRENCH:

• The first: YUTAKA ISHINABE (retired from the show)
  Vietnam Alice in Ginza (2min. walk from Yuuraku-cho Station)
  03-5250-0801
  Lunch 1500 yen - Dinner 2500 yen -
  
• The second: HIROYUKI SAKAI.
  RaRochelle in Shibuya (3min. walk from Shibuya Station)
  03-3400-8220
  Lunch 2800 yen -Dinner 8500 yen -

Iron Chef CHINESE:

• CHIN KENICHI
  Akasaka Shisen Hantenin Akasaka (3min. walk from Nagata-cho station)
  03-3263-9371

Iron Chef ITALIAN:

• MASAHIKO KOBE
  Massain Ebisu (1min. walk from Ebisu station.)
  Lunch 2000 yen -

These restaurants are pretty busy. Make sure to make a reservation before you go. Enjoy the ultimate cuisine at the iron chefs' restaurants.