Seattle chef Rachel Yang of Joule to appear on 'Iron Chef America'

'Iron Chef America'

Our local chefs haven't had much luck on "Iron Chef America" as of late.

The latest to compete is Joule chef Rachel Yang, who will go up against new Iron Chef Jose Garces at 9 p.m. Sunday on the Food Network.

Yang's right-hand man in "Kitchen Stadium" will be her man, chef and husband Seif Chirchi. The couple own the acclaimed Wallingford restaurant. They met in New York City while working in the kitchen at Alain Ducasse at the Essex House.

With the exception of Tom Douglas, who defeated Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto in 2005, local chefs have lost — Tamara Murphy of Brasa, Sabrina Tinsley of La Spiga and Daisley Gordon of Campagne Restaurant, for instance. Yang, whose cuisine has Korean and French influences, brings quite the résumé, having worked for the likes of famed chefs Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud.

Her appearance has created so much interest that her viewing party on Sunday has been moved across the street to Murphy's Irish Pub. (If you want to attend, a reservation is recommended; 206-632-1913, $10 admission). Party starts at 8 p.m. with live music and hors d'oeuvres, including a sampling of a dish she made at the "Iron Chef" competition.

Tan Vinh, Seattle Times staff reporter