The regional winners draw knives to determine the bracket for Final Fire 2013
(photo courtesy of Competition Dining)
Final Fire Returns to Raleigh!
The Got To Be NC Competition Dining Series returns to Raleigh in November for the “Final Fire” competition. Final Fire will conclude the statewide chef competition and determine NC’s champion. Reservations open Oct. 30 at 7 pm online here.
Location & Dates
The four competitive dinners will be hosted at Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel at 4100 Main at North Hills St., Raleigh (map)
The series begins on Nov. 20 and concludes on Nov. 23. The Got To Be NC Competition Dining Champions from Asheville, Wilmington, the Triad, the Triangle and Charlotte will compete.
“Final Fire” Chef Brackets
November 20th
- Noble’s Grille, Winston-Salem (John Bobby) vs. Mimosa Grill, Charlotte (Jon Fortes)
November 21st
- Flights at Renaissance Raleigh Hotel, Raleigh (Dean Thompson) vs. winner of Nov. 20
November 22nd
- Persimmons Restaurant, New Bern (Gerry Fong) vs. Red Stag Grill, Asheville (Adam Hayes)
November 23rd
- Battle between winner of Nov. 21 and Nov. 22
At stake in Final Fire is $4,000, a hand-forged set of knives from Charlotte-based Ironman Forge and a trip to Napa Valley, CA to the pro chef program at the CIA Greystone campus, compliments of Kikkoman. The runner-up receives $1,000.
Now in its second year, The Got To Be NC Competition Dining Series has become a statewide movement. Because all people are chefs, farmers, and diners, the event’s mission is to connect and celebrate this community with a dynamic, entertaining experience.
Sponsors include the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Pate Dawson-Southern Foods, OUR STATE Magazine, Certified Angus Beef®, Pepsi Bottling Ventures and Swisher Hygiene.
How it Works
Paying guests will savor each course in a blind tasting alongside a panel of culinary and celebrity judges in a series of four dinner competitions. Each evening, two restaurants “battle” it out side-by-side in a single elimination format. Guests savor a six-course menu (three dishes from each chef without knowing whose food they’re tasting) created around a “featured” ingredient. For each dinner, the ingredient will come from a North Carolina farmer or artisan producer. The featured ingredient is revealed to the chefs only an hour before they start cooking, and it must be used in each of the three courses.
Diners, alongside culinary and guest judges, will rate each dish and determine who moves on to the next round and who goes home.
Reservation Information
Event reservations cost $119 each excluding beverage, tax and service charge. Diners can attend as many dinners as they like. Reservations open online here on October 30 at 7 pm . Event organizers expect the finals to sell out in 24 hours so don’t wait!
The Triangle Explorer 