Competitive cooking event gives Charlotte national attention

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A cooking competition is garnering national attention for Charlotte as a food tourism destination.
 
Fire in the City kicked off this week at Bonterra in South End.
 
The Iron Chef-like competition challenges two local chefs to use a secret ingredient to feed nearly 200 diners within just a few hours.
 
Organizers said they are using local farms for the ingredients and tapping local vineyards.

"Charlotte is ripe and ready for being the new foodie town in the country," said Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series founder and host Jimmy Crippen. "You have chefs coming in almost every day and opening up new restaurants."
 
Two previous competitors went on to win "Chopped" on the Food Network. For more information on Fire in the City, click here.

WSOC