Are you ready for the Australian Iron Chefs?

A local version of the cult Japanese cooking television show is set to film in Melbourne in the coming weeks with three of Australia's top chef battling it out against young chefs.

Melbourne's Guy Grossi, Rockpool's Neil Perry and Bennelong's Guillaume Brahimi from Sydney will appear regulary in the series as the iron chefs. Grossi said he was ''very excited'' to work with Perry and Brahimi who he has known for years. The trio had finalised talks over the show, which will screen on Channel Seven.

'I've always been a bit of a fan because it's a bit of a crazy, fun show. It's a great honour that I was included on the list,' Grossi said. He explained he was a fan of both the Japanese and US versions.

Iron Chef filmed three hundred episodes between 1993 and 1999 when the show ended but repeats continued to be shown every Saturday night in Australia on SBS. The cooking show was also a cult hit in the US and due to its popularity, a spin-off version there was aired in 2004.

Profile of the chefs are available in Lifestyle Food (www.lifestylefood.com.au):

Neil Perry "is one of Australia's leading and most influential chefs and is founder of the successful "Rockpool" Empire. Neil's career in hospitality began at Sails restaurant at McMahons Point and in Rose Bay, starting at front house - Neil's love of great food saw him quickly move backstage."

Guillaume Brahimi "was born in Paris and it was in the shadow of another iconic landmark, Notre Dame, that he learnt his trade (at the famed Tour D'Argent). He went on to spend four years at Jamin, under the skilled guidance of Joel Robuchon, where he worked his way up to sous-chef."

Guy Grossi "is seriously committed to the fundamental guidelines of the Italian cucina" and "reveres his Italian heritage and is very much aware of its tradition, identity and values ."