The Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series, a single-elimination tournament highlighting the best of North Carolina’s food, agriculture, and culinary talent, is back for 2016 with a total of eight tournaments across the state, each made up of four chef teams vying for the local title. The touring competition will have dual brackets in both Raleigh and Charlotte, and one tournament in each of Durham, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and Wilmington. It all culminates in October with the Battle of Champions to name a statewide victor.
Applications for chefs interested in competing are currently being accepted for all locations. This year, the Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series is switching formats to allow chefs to create All-Star Dream Teams. The change allows chefs from different restaurants to partner together to create their three-person team, upping the potential caliber and creating a more fun and competitive atmosphere.
“We’re excited to introduce this new Dream Team concept that will further showcase the immense culinary talent and agriculture in North Carolina with the 2016 Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series,” says Jimmy Crippen, Competition Dining Series founder and host. “Our mission is to connect and celebrate with foodies across the state through this dynamic, entertaining culinary experience. We look forward to sharing unique chef collaborations with our diners to make for an unprecedented year of highly competitive events with innovative dishes like never before.”
Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series battles include two chef teams each preparing three courses centered on a featured ingredient that comes from a North Carolina farmer or artisan producer. Featured ingredients are revealed to the chefs the morning of the dinner event and must be used in every course. Ticketed guests get in on the action, savoring the full-service, six-course meals without knowing which chef prepared which plate. Alongside culinary and guest judges, diners rate each dish using an interactive app, ultimately determining who moves on to the next round and who goes home.
The 2016 Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series dinner battles will be held in:
- Durham: April 18, 19, and 21
- Winston-Salem: May 22, 23, and 25
- Greensboro: June 20, 21, and 23
- Raleigh (two brackets): July 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 21, and a finale to name one Raleigh champion July 24.
- Charlotte (two brackets): Aug. 8, 9, 11, 22, 23, 25, and a finale to name one Charlotte champion August 28
- Wilmington: September 19, 20, and 22
The six winners will move on to compete in the Battle of Champions at the end of the year. Since Raleigh and Charlotte teams must compete in an extra battle to win their local title, these chefs will receive a bye for the first round of the championship.
Tickets to attend an interactive dinner battle are $59 to $69 each, and pre-sale tickets for all tournaments can be purchased online. Competing chefs and bracket lineups will be announced about two weeks before each location’s first battle. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly, and people interested in attending are encouraged to signup for the Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series e-newsletter for the most recent ticket updates and news.
