October 18, 2016 — The Dorothy and Roy Park Alumni Center will host two events associated with the Got to Be NC Products’ Competition Dining Series, “Battle of the Champions.” The Park Alumni Center is located on NC State’s Centennial Campus and is a prime destination for reunions, receptions, parties, and seminars. It is also home to the State Club Restaurant, which is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The “Battle of the Champions” competition spans six major North Carolina cities to find the most competitive chefs in North Carolina. Chefs compete at regional events over a course of several months, culminating in regional events held November 11 – 13. The semi-final event pitting the winners from November 11 and 12 will take place at the Park Alumni Center on November 18. The Grand Finale pitting the winners from November 13 and November 18 will take place November 20.
The intense competition will consist of two teams with three chefs, battling each other in a blind dinner format. Each team will have to use the ingredients presented to them the morning of the competition. The ingredients presented to the chefs will be “Featured” North Carolina ingredients.
Guests have the honor of tasting two three-course meals, in a blind competition format. Ticket purchases give the option of sitting in the main dining room, or the mezzanine seating, which is in a more private balcony seating area. Guests will not know which course came from which team, in order to keep the competition blind. Chefs will be eliminated in a single elimination format. Guests judge the dishes based on presentation, aroma, flavor, creativity, and more. The voting will take place digitally, and guests will ultimately decide the winners.