Chef Sameh Wadi, owner of Saffron
Restaurant & Lounge will be the first Minnesotan to compete on
Iron Chef America when he appears on the show later this month. Chef Wadi
will take on Iron Chef Masahara Morimoto to determine whose cuisine reigns
supreme. The episode premiers on Food Network at 8 p.m. Central Time, Sun.
Jan. 24. Wadi flew to Kitchen Stadium in New York in July 2009 to tape the
episode and has been sworn to secrecy about any specifics regarding the
competition until now.
"This has been a surreal experience," said Chef Wadi. "I've been
watching Iron Chef since I was 15 years old. Ten years later I'm one of
the competitors. It's truly amazing!"
Competing on Iron Chef America is just the latest in an impressive
string of national and local achievements for the chef that opened his
restaurant just three years ago at the age of 23. In 2008 and 2009 Wadi
was a semi-finalist for the coveted James Beard "Rising Star" award.
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Iron Chef America "Chef Sameh vs. Morimoto" Food Network Air Times:
Jan. 24, 2010 - 8 p.m. Central
Jan. 25, 2010 - 11 p.m. Central
Jan. 28, 2010 - 7 p.m. Central