Food Network Selects Roster of Ten Superstar Chefs for the Ultimate Culinary Battle - Each Looking to Become "The Next Iron Chef"

Elite Chefs Go Knife-to-Knife in High-Stakes Challenge to Become 'The Next Iron Chef' Hosted by Alton Brown, Season Four Set to Premiere Sunday, October 30th at 9pm ET/PT

NEW YORK - April 18, 2011 - Food Network, the leader in food and lifestyle entertainment, today announced the all-star casting and start of production for the ultimate season of The Next Iron Chef. Slated for premiere on Sunday, October 30th at 9pm ET/PT, Alton Brown will again host this 8-episode, top-rated series, which will shoot in Los Angeles and New York. The elite cast includes ten renowned chefs:

Anne Burrell - Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, Worst Cooks in America (Food Network)

Michael Chiarello - Bottega Restaurant (Napa Valley), Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello (Cooking Channel) Elizabeth Faulkner - Citizen Cake, Orson (San Francisco), Iron Chef America - challenger (Food Network)

Alex Guarnaschelli - Butter, The Darby (New York), Alex's Day Off, Chopped (Food Network)

Chuck Hughes - Garde Manger (Montreal), Chuck's Day Off (Cooking Channel), Iron Chef America - challenger (Food Network)

Robert Irvine - Robert Irvine's eat! (Hilton Head Island), Dinner: Impossible, Restaurant: Impossible, Worst Cooks in America (Food Network)

Beau MacMillan - Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain (Phoenix), Challenge, Iron Chef America - challenger (Food Network)

Spike Mendelsohn - Good Stuff Eatery (Washington D.C.), Kelsey & Spike Cook (Food2.com)

Marcus Samuelsson -Red Rooster Harlem (New York), 24 Hour Restaurant Battle, Chopped (Food Network)

Geoffrey Zakarian - The National, The Lambs Club (New York), 24 Hour Restaurant Battle, Chopped (Food Network)

Judges include the original 'Next Iron Chef' Michael Symon, esteemed food journalist Simon Majumdar and UK Iron Chef Judy Joo.

In The Next Iron Chef, the contestants bet on their culinary skills and put their reputations on the line for the chance to compete in legendary Kitchen Stadium. The winner will join the ranks of chefs including Bobby Flay, Marc Forgione, Jose Garces, Masaharu Morimoto and Symon as a member of the Chairman's team on Iron Chef America.

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