Tickets on Sale Now for Chefs Competition Benefitting The Lucy Daniels Center

After a successful debut in 2017, The Lucy Daniels Center is proud to announce the lineup for the 2018 Cooking for a Classic chefs competition pitting eight culinary masters in head-to-head matchups to win a restored classic 1949 GMC 5-window pickup truck. Tickets are on sale now, with a special incentive – for every ticket sold by December 24, the purchaser receives a chance to win a $100 gift card.

The lineup for 2018 is as follows:

Monday, January 22

Chef Troy Stauffer, City Club, Raleigh vs. Chef Matt Hannon, Ironwood Cafe, Southern Pines

Tuesday, January. 23

Chef Jonathan Ballard, Dean’s Kitchen+Bar, Cary, vs. Chef James Patterson, McConnell Golf Dining Team, Raleigh

Wednesday, January 24

Chef Trey Cleveland, Top of the Hill, Chapel Hill vs. Chef Aaron Matyac, Whiskey Kitchen, Raleigh

Thursday, January 25

Chef Dean Thompson, Raleigh Renaissance Hotel, Raleigh vs. Chef Nick Fay, Coquette, Raleigh

All competitions will be held at 1705 East, Rocky Top Catering’s premier event venue located at 1705 East Millbrook Road in Raleigh. The competition is structured like a tournament, and each winning chef in the first round will move on to round two on January 29 and 30. The Cooking for a Classic champion will be crowned on February 7 and take home the rare classic pickup truck.

Each chef will prepare three courses with at least one secret ingredient in each dish. Attendees and guest judges will decide which chef will advance in the competition. Tickets start at just $75, and all proceeds benefit The Lucy Daniels Center. Thanks to generous donations from sponsors, 100 percent of net proceeds will go to the nonprofit organization, which helps local children live emotionally healthy lives.

“Last year’s Cooking for a Classic was a tremendous success and helped us raise $80,000,” said Don Rosenblitt, executive director of The Lucy Daniels Center. “We have an earlier timeline in 2018, and I think tickets would make great holiday gifts or stocking stuffers. Not only will you get a great meal, you’ll have a fun time and help a good cause.”

Event supporters of the Second Annual Cooking for a Classic include MoJo Performance Partners, WRAL.com Out & About, and Rocky Top Catering. Corporate sponsors are Fred Anderson Toyota and Overflowing Hands, and Table Sponsors include PNC and UNC Rex Healthcare. In-kind sponsors and vendors include CE Rentals, F8 Photo Studios, US Foods, Social House, SPIN NC, TOPO Distillery, Clouds Brewing, Fortnight Brewery, Fullsteam Brewery, Mason Jar Brewery, Mystery Brewery, Mystic Brewery, Neuse River Brewing, New Belgium Brewery, Ponysaurus, Trophy Brewing, and Jen Rhoton Designs.

More information about the competition can be found at www.cookingforaclassic.com. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/o/cooking-for-a-classiclucy-daniels-center-14963877006.

To learn more about The Lucy Daniels Center, visit www.lucydanielscenter.org.