Ever wonder how any old chef becomes an Iron Chef?

If you’re a fan of the hit show – where culinary masters cook off against challengers using surprise, and sometimes obscure, ingredients – then you won’t want to miss this new six-part reality series, which is called The Next Iron Chef.

A new batch of highly respected chefs will go head-to-head in Kitchen Stadium for more than just bragging rights.

Whoever wins The Next Iron Chef, will join Iron Chefs Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Cat Cora and Masaharu Morimoto at the top of the food chain and take on challengers of their own in Iron Chef America’s new season, starting Nov. 18.

“You have to be able to produce quality food in a short amount of time with no prior knowledge of the ingredients you’ll be using,” contestant Aaron Sanchez, says executive chef at NYC Latin restaurants Centrico and Paladar.

“It’s a gladiatorial, mano-a-mano culinary blood fest and an enormous amount of pressure.” On the other hand, San Diego-based chef Gavin Kaysen says he relishes the stress of the upcoming competition on The Next Iron Chef. “It’s a helluva challenge. Everything on the show is very off the cuff; ready, set, cook!”

The Next Iron Chef premieres this Sunday, Oct. 7, at 9pm on Food Network. Don’t miss it! [source: Star]