Tournament will be a Single Elimination Bracket Series

Chef's must be a team of three, dress in uniform and wear a hat

One flex cook allowed (so long as they don't compete on another team)

Secret Ingredient will be revealed on the day of each competition (teams agree to confidentiality)

Each Chef must create three dishes incorporating secret ingredient (may be any type of dish, appetizer, entree, dessert)

Teams may only use ingredients provided, more ingredients will not be available due to ruining original product given

Each team may bring with them a small "bag of tricks" amounting to no more than $100 worth of ingredients (mandatory inspection)

Day Preparations will take place from 10:00 am to 6:00pm at Crippen's (lunch provided for Chef teams)

Each team must bring their own tools (house equipment is available for both teams to work with)

Guests will arrive at 6:30pm, dinner service will begin at 7:00pm

Order of dishes served will be determined by Jimmy Crippen along with competing Chefs as to best accomodate the guests

Judging will be done by the guests who will have forms to fill out during service

Guests will be instructed how to judge based on form's criteria

Winner of each competition will be determined at the end of the evening

Winners will advance to "Fire on the Rock" Chef's Challenge during the "Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival"

All Fire on the Rock Preliminary Events are held under the exclusive supervision of a referee known as the "ChefRef" and will be executed in accordance with the following rules.

GENERAL

1. Good Sportsmanship will be the prevailing attitude throughout the Challenge.
2. All cooks/teams will play by these Chef Challenge Rules and, where necessary, any supplemental Rules stipulated by local Challenge Organizers.
3. The interpretation of these Challenge Rules, in relation to a specific event, will rest with local Challenge Organizers, whose decisions shall be final and binding. Protests after the fact will not be considered.
4. Any cook/team who, during the course of any event, fails to comply with any of these Challenge Rules, will be subject to disqualification from that event.
5. Gambling is neither permitted nor sanctioned by the Fire on the Rock Chef Challenge.
6. Fire on the Rock Chef Challenge in the course of the series, ensure to the best of its ability, that the host/sponsor organization has the funding and/or sponsorship necessary to support the advertised cash prize structure for a Challenge event. The manner and matter of Challenge prize payments are the responsibility of the respective host/sponsor organization and not that of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce.
7. Crippen's Country Inn & Restaurant assumes no responsibility for accident or injury on the premises.
8. Crippen's reserves the right to add to or amend the Challenge Rules at any time.