The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association, creator and host of the NC Chef Showdown, announces the 16 chefs selected to compete in its second annual cooking competition. The chefs, all based in North Carolina, were selected following a rigorous application and selection process. Forty chefs total applied to the competition.

Selected chefs—broken into two food categories, savory and sweet—are vying for the 2017 “NCRLA Chef of the Year” and “Pastry Chef of the Year” awards. Chefs will prepare and serve tasting-sized portions to event attendees. The dishes, judged by six culinary experts, will be scored on presentation, taste and use of local ingredients from North Carolina. Additional awards include “Best Use of a North Carolina Product” and “Most Creative Presentation.” The “People’s Choice” awards are determined by showdown attendees.

The 12 savory chefs are:

• Chef Thomas Card | Executive Chef | The Counting House Restaurant at the 21c Museum Hotel | Durham
• Chef Jim Diecchio | Executive Chef | Rocksalt | Charlotte
• Chef Timothy Grandinetti | Executive Chef | Spring House Restaurant Kitchen & Bar | Winston-Salem
• Chef  Matthew Krenz | Executive Chef/Culinary Director | The Asbury at The Dunhill Hotel| Charlotte
• Chef Lil Lacassagne | Chef/Ower | Saint Jacques at The Burke Manor Inn | Gibsonville
• Chef Thomas Marlow | Executive Chef | Mimosa Grill| Charlotte
• Chef Scott Ostrander | Executive Chef | The Grand Bohemian Hotel| Asheville
• Chef Phillip Platoni | Chef De Cuisine | Southminster Continued Care Retirement Community| Charlotte
• Chef Adam Reed | Chef/Owner | Sante| Matthews
• Chef Scott Schabot | Executive Chef | Cameron Bar and Grill| Raleigh
• Chef Bud Taylor | Chef/Owner | The Bistro Topsail| Surf City
• Chef Alyssa Wilen | Chef/Owner | Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen| Charlotte

The four pastry chefs include:

• Chef Julius Kalman | Owner/Pastry Chef | Vidalia | Boone
• Chef Shelby Smith | Pastry Chef | Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery| Chapel Hill
• Chef Ann Marie Stefaney | Pastry Chef | Heirloom Restaurant| Charlotte
• Chef Hannah Woociker | Pastry Chef | Highland Avenue| Hickory

“New this year, NCRLA will crown a 2017 ‘Mixologist of the Year,’ as six North Carolina distilleries will be featured with hand-picked bartenders crafting cocktails for guests and judges to enjoy,” said Minges.

The six selected North Carolina distilleries are:

• TOPO Distillery, Chapel Hill, featuring its TOPO Organic Spirits
• Durham Distillery, Durham, featuring its Conniption American Dry Gin
• Covington Vodka Distillery, Snow Hill, featuring small batch sweet potato vodka
• Muddy River Distillery, Belmont, featuring its Queen Charlotte Rum
• Graybeard Distillery, Durham, featuring its Bedlam Vodka
• Southern Artisan Spirits, Kings Mountain, featuring its small-batch Cardinal Gin

The showdown is Aug. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit www.ncchefshowdown.com.