MARCH 18, 2010 ISSUE
Fire on the Rock Quarterfinals Begin March 23 and 24
After 12 rounds of preliminary competitions draw to a close on Monday, March 22, the Fire on the Rock quarterfinals kick off on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 23 and 24.
Crippen’s Country Inn & Restaurant, located at 239 Sunset Drive in Blowing Rock, hosts the quarterfinals, and as in the preliminary competitions, each chef and two of his or her coworkers must incorporate a secret ingredient into each of the three courses they prepare.
In the first quarterfinal, coined “Battle Main Street” because “they’re right across the street from each other,” Chef Skipper Clyburn of Glidewell’s and Chef Andrew Long of Storie Street Grille will face off, said Jimmy Crippen, owner of Crippen’s.
In “Battle Sam” on Wednesday, March 24, Chef Sam Beasley of Gamekeeper Restaurant and Chef Sam Ratchford of Vidalia will square off.
Next Tuesday, March 30, in “Battle Banner Elk,” Chef Matt Franklin of Jackalope’s View and Chef Nicole Palazzo of Sorrento’s Bistro will battle it out.
Jason Jarrell of Rowland’s at Westglow Spa will take on the winner of the final preliminary battle—either Chef Michael Foreman of Bistro Roca or Chef Tom Jankovich of Grandfather Golf and Country Club—in the last quarterfinal on Wednesday, March 31.
Reservations should be made now for quarterfinals; the March 30 event is already sold out, Crippen said.
The cost of attending any night’s event is only $39 plus drinks, tax and tips, and includes a blind, six-course meal. Diners’ scores of each dish determine which team advances to the semifinals. Prior to the meal each competition evening, Crippen gives a quick lesson on food judging.
Reservations should also be made now for the main Fire on the Rock events, which take place as part of the Blue Ridge Food and Wine Festival in Blowing Rock. Semifinals take place at 11:00 a.m. and at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, and the grand finale takes place on Sunday, April 18, at 2:00 p.m., Crippen said.
The cost to watch any of those events is $10, he added.
For more information and/or to make reservations for quarterfinals, click to www.fireontherock.com. For more information, call Crippen’s at 828-295-3487.
To make reservations for the semifinals or grand finale, call the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce at 877-295-7965 or click to www.fireontherock.com or www.blueridgewinefestival.com.
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