The battle begins at 8 p.m. on the Food Network as local chef Sameh Wadi battles Masaharu Morimoto on "Iron Chef America." Though the episode was shot last summer, Wadi has been sworn to secrecy about revealing the outcome. To read Rick Nelson's earlier interview with Sameh, see www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/80806657.html.

Sameh and his brother Saed (who runs the front of the restaurant) own Saffron Restaurant & Lounge in the Warehouse District of downtown Minneapolis(123 N. 3rd St., Mpls., 612-746-5533, www.saffronmpls.com), Sameh is the first Minnesota chef to compete, and at 25, was the youngest competitor to appear on the U.S. show. For Rick Nelson's review of the restaurant, which he gave 3 stars (out of 4) , see http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/11501766.html.

Morimoto, of Japan, owns three Morimoto restaurants: in Philadelphia, New York City and Boca Raton, Fla. He also owns Wasabi restaurant in Mumbai, India, and Morimoto XEX in Tokyo.

"Iron Chef America" is a spin-off from the original Japanese "Iron Chef" series.

The show will be re-aired on the Food Network at 11 p.m. Sunday and at 7 p.m. this Thursday (Jan. 28).

Sameh Wadi, chef/owner at Saffron in Minneapolis.