The Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series, a culinary tournament highlighting the best of the state’s food, agriculture and culinary talent, is returning to Wilmington for three interactive battles Sept. 19, 20 and 22.
 
This year’s competition pits four highly competitive teams against each other for the All-Star Dream Team competition. New to the competition this year, the creation of All-Star Dream Teams allows chefs from different restaurants to partner together.
 
The Wilmington dinner series will be held at Bluewater Waterfront Grill in Wrightsville Beach.
 
Here’s the lineup:
 
Sept. 19
 
Team Pine Valley Market from Wilmington: Chris McCauley, executive chef and manager of Pine Valley Market; Paul Smith, chef from Pine Valley Market; and a third yet to be named chef
 
vs.
 
Team Me So Hungry from Wilmington: Jeffrey Porter, executive chef at Port City Pop Ups and 1900 Restaurant; Keith Rhodes, chef and owner of Catch; and Rebecca Edelmira Alvarado-Paredes, executive pastry chef at manna
 
Sept. 20
 
Team 65 ROSES from Carolina Beach: Brandon Stark, executive chef of Michael’s Seafood Restaurant & Catering; Blake Bedson, kitchen manager from Michael’s Seafood Restaurant & Catering; and Matthew Shepard, sous chef at McNinch House Restaurant in Charlotte
 
vs.
 
Team Ceviche’s from Wrightsville Beach: Sam Cahoon, executive chef of Ceviche’s; and Edson Juarez and Eric Smith, sous chefs at Ceviche’s
 
The Sept. 22 dinner will feature the winners of the Sept. 19 and Sept. 20 events.
 
Each team must prepare three courses featuring a North Carolina ingredient that is revealed to them just an hour before they start cooking.
 
Guest enjoy a full-service, six-course meal without knowing which team prepared which plates, and the diners score each course using an interactive app on their phones. These scores, combined with the scores from local judges, help to determine which teams advance to the finals.
 
“Wilmington has brought out fierce competition in years past, and we couldn’t be more excited to be back on the coast hosting Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series battles during our 2016 season,” said Jimmy Crippen, Competition Dining Series founder and host. “The dinners are going to feature dynamic chefs, premier North Carolina ingredients and creative, mouth-watering dishes. Not to mention, the diners will get to eat with breathtaking waterfront views!”
 
For more information and ticket prices, click here.

Have a tip for Restaurant Roundup? Email us at [email protected].