Native Grill & Wings, an award-winning Arizona restaurant chain known for its 20-plus wing flavors that guests can order by the individual wing, has launched its own personal culinary skills competition. Final Cut: Native will consist of six chosen employees battling the reward of their dish or drink to appear on menus nationwide. 

Final Cut: Native will be held on April 25 at the Native corporate test kitchen in Chandler, Arizona. The dishes and drinks were created by Native employees across the country. Six semifinalists include four from Native’s home state of Arizona and two from Montana. The contestants will have the full use of Native’s test kitchen to create their culinary masterpieces live for the event.

“We have some of the most creative and talented employees at our restaurants across the country and we wanted to invite them to cut their own way into our menu,” says CEO Dan Chaon. “Our six chosen semi-finalists represent what the company is all about and we eagerly await to add the winning dish and drink so our loyal customers across the country can enjoy them.”

The employees were given the challenge to create a dish, broken down into burgers or sandwiches, using only ingredients found in their Native location. Similarly with the drinks category, employees could only source ingredients found behind their Native bar. A winner of each category will be chosen by voting from Native corporate employees as well as media members from Arizona.

“I’m still in disbelief that I will be traveling from Montana to Native’s headquarters to create my dish,” adds Justin Dooley, employee of Native Grill & Wings Missoula. “I’m going for the win but I know the competition will be fierce.”