Announcing the 2015 Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series
The Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series Triangle events begin this Monday, January 19, and culminates with a single regional winner on March 2. The champion then goes head to head in the final battle with the winners of the City series (Charlotte) and the Triad series (Winston-Salem). One person will be crowned state champion.
This series is unlike anything anywhere. In an NCAA-style bracket tournament, two chefs face off and cook a three-course dinner based on a secret local ingredient that contestants learn about only an hour before each event. Then, in a blind tasting, 150 diners, including three professional judges, use an interactive app to rate each of the six plates to determine who will advance to the next round. Each course receives scores based on presentation, aroma, overall flavor, execution, creativity, and use of the secret ingredient.
This year’s Triangle First-Round match-ups are:
Jan. 19 Dinner: Gerry Fong of Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant in New Bern, versus Benjamin Harris of Midtown Grille in Raleigh
Jan. 20 Dinner: Trey Cleveland of Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery in Chapel Hill, versus Ryan Conklin of Rex Healthcare in Raleigh
Jan. 21 Dinner: Shane Ingram of Four Square Restaurant in Durham, versus Ben Strange of Aperitivo at Lawson’s Landing in New Bern
Jan. 26 Dinner: Christopher Hill of Faire Steak & Seafood in Raleigh, versus Teddy Diggs of Il Palio in Chapel Hill
Jan. 27 Dinner: Ben Adams of Piedmont Restaurant in Durham, versus Chelsi Hogue of Ed's Southern Food & Spirits in Goldsboro
Jan. 28 Dinner: Patrick Cowden of Tobacco Road Sports Cafe in Raleigh/Durham, versus Curt Shelvey of Curt's Cucina in Southern Pines
Feb. 2 Dinner: Spencer Carter of Weathervane in Chapel Hill, versus Rhett Morris of Rhett's Restaurant in Southern Pines
Feb. 3 Dinner: Benjamin Guaman of Governors Club in Chapel Hill, versus Brandon Stark of Michael's Seafood Restaurant in Carolina Beach.
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The 2015 Triangle Competitors
If you’d like to attend, and I highly recommend you do, all Triangle events are held at 1705 Prime, located at 1705 E. Millbrook in Raleigh. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets for a preliminary battle cost $55 per person. Tickets for a quarterfinal battle are $59 each, excluding beverage, tax and service fee. Attending a semifinal battle costs $69 per person. Tickets for the final competition are $75 each, excluding beverage, tax and service fee. Make your reservations now at www.competitiondining.com.
The past regional and Final Fire winners are:
2014 Final Fire - Jon Fortes: Mimosa Grill in Charlotte
2014 Fire in the City - Jon Fortes: Mimosa Grill in Charlotte
2014 Fire in the Triangle - Dean Thompson: Flights in Raleigh
2014 Fire in the Triad - Tim Thompson: Marisol in Greensboro
2014 Fire on the Rock - Michelle Bailey: Seasons at Highland Lake in Flat Rock
2014 Fire on the Dock - Antoine Murray: Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington
2013 Final Fire - Adam Hayes: Red Stag Grill in Asheville
2013 Fire in the City - Jon Fortes: Mimosa Grill in Charlotte
2013 Fired in the Triangle - Dean Thompson: Flights in Raleigh
2013 Fire in the Triad - John Bobby: Noble's Grille in Winston-Salem
2013 Fire on the Dock - Gerry Fong: Persimmons in New Bern
2013 Fire on the Rock - Adam Hayes: Red Stag Grill in Asheville
2012 Final Fire - Ryan Payne: Weathervane in Chapel Hill
2012 Fire in the Triad - George Neal: 1618 Seafood Grille in Greensboro
2012 Fire in the Triangle - Ryan Payne: Weathervane in Chapel Hill
2012 Fire on the Dock - Andy Hopper: Chefs 105 in Morehead City
2012 Fire on the Rock - Michael Foreman: Bistro Roca in Blowing Rock
This series is unlike anything anywhere. In an NCAA-style bracket tournament, two chefs face off and cook a three-course dinner based on a secret local ingredient that contestants learn about only an hour before each event. Then, in a blind tasting, 150 diners, including three professional judges, use an interactive app to rate each of the six plates to determine who will advance to the next round. Each course receives scores based on presentation, aroma, overall flavor, execution, creativity, and use of the secret ingredient.
This year’s Triangle First-Round match-ups are:
Jan. 19 Dinner: Gerry Fong of Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant in New Bern, versus Benjamin Harris of Midtown Grille in Raleigh
Jan. 20 Dinner: Trey Cleveland of Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery in Chapel Hill, versus Ryan Conklin of Rex Healthcare in Raleigh
Jan. 21 Dinner: Shane Ingram of Four Square Restaurant in Durham, versus Ben Strange of Aperitivo at Lawson’s Landing in New Bern
Jan. 26 Dinner: Christopher Hill of Faire Steak & Seafood in Raleigh, versus Teddy Diggs of Il Palio in Chapel Hill
Jan. 27 Dinner: Ben Adams of Piedmont Restaurant in Durham, versus Chelsi Hogue of Ed's Southern Food & Spirits in Goldsboro
Jan. 28 Dinner: Patrick Cowden of Tobacco Road Sports Cafe in Raleigh/Durham, versus Curt Shelvey of Curt's Cucina in Southern Pines
Feb. 2 Dinner: Spencer Carter of Weathervane in Chapel Hill, versus Rhett Morris of Rhett's Restaurant in Southern Pines
Feb. 3 Dinner: Benjamin Guaman of Governors Club in Chapel Hill, versus Brandon Stark of Michael's Seafood Restaurant in Carolina Beach.
If you’d like to attend, and I highly recommend you do, all Triangle events are held at 1705 Prime, located at 1705 E. Millbrook in Raleigh. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets for a preliminary battle cost $55 per person. Tickets for a quarterfinal battle are $59 each, excluding beverage, tax and service fee. Attending a semifinal battle costs $69 per person. Tickets for the final competition are $75 each, excluding beverage, tax and service fee. Make your reservations now at www.competitiondining.com.
The past regional and Final Fire winners are:
2014 Final Fire - Jon Fortes: Mimosa Grill in Charlotte
2014 Fire in the City - Jon Fortes: Mimosa Grill in Charlotte
2014 Fire in the Triangle - Dean Thompson: Flights in Raleigh
2014 Fire in the Triad - Tim Thompson: Marisol in Greensboro
2014 Fire on the Rock - Michelle Bailey: Seasons at Highland Lake in Flat Rock
2014 Fire on the Dock - Antoine Murray: Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington
2013 Final Fire - Adam Hayes: Red Stag Grill in Asheville
2013 Fire in the City - Jon Fortes: Mimosa Grill in Charlotte
2013 Fired in the Triangle - Dean Thompson: Flights in Raleigh
2013 Fire in the Triad - John Bobby: Noble's Grille in Winston-Salem
2013 Fire on the Dock - Gerry Fong: Persimmons in New Bern
2013 Fire on the Rock - Adam Hayes: Red Stag Grill in Asheville
2012 Final Fire - Ryan Payne: Weathervane in Chapel Hill
2012 Fire in the Triad - George Neal: 1618 Seafood Grille in Greensboro
2012 Fire in the Triangle - Ryan Payne: Weathervane in Chapel Hill
2012 Fire on the Dock - Andy Hopper: Chefs 105 in Morehead City
2012 Fire on the Rock - Michael Foreman: Bistro Roca in Blowing Rock
