The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association Chef Showdown, presented by GotToBeNC is North Carolina’s premier culinary and mixology competition open to all professional chefs and bartenders or mixologists currently working in North Carolina.
NEW for 2024: Leading up to the finale there will be two preliminary rounds and two regional rounds of mixology competitions for bartenders and mixologists, each paired with a single NC Distillery from the beginning of the season to the end. Each participating NC Distillery may only team up with one competing bartender or mixologist. Each mixology contestant will participate in one of the two preliminary rounds, and if selected to continue, in one of the two regional rounds of competition. The competing bartender and partner distillery will remain paired as a team throughout the 2024 competition.l
Please read this rulebook in its entirety, as it lays out what to expect through all rounds of the competition.
- About NCRLA
- General Mixology Competition Rules and Procedures
- Preliminary Mixology Round Rules and Procedures
- Regional Mixology Round Rules and Procedures
- Grand Finale Rules and Procedures
- NC Department of Agriculture 2024-25 Culinary and Beverage Ambassadors Team
Questions? Call or email Heidi Billotto, NCRLA Chef Showdown host and co-organizer, at 704-502-4439 heidibillotto@gmail.com OR Inez Nicholson, NCRLA co-organizer and NCRLA Communications and Events Coordinator, at 803-269-3804 or inicholson@ncrla.org
About the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association
The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association is the uniting force of the North Carolina
hospitality industry. The Association brings together restaurant and lodging establishments and
partners who support our hospitality community. NCRLA impacts legislation and policies,
cultivates relationships, and provides valuable resources to help members run their businesses.
General Competition Rules and Procedures
- North Carolina distilleries and bartenders may apply to compete through an online
application process at www.NCChefShowdown.com. Applications must be completed in
their entirety. Each participating NC Distillery may only team up with one competing bartender or mixologist. - Bartenders and distilleries must apply as a team. Either the bartender or the distillery
may initiate the application, but both parties must agree to the rules. - Applications will be accepted through Tuesday March 5, 2024 at midnight. NCRLA Chef Showdown organizers may extend the application period if necessary.
- Past bartenders or mixologists who have won the grand titles may not apply again until they are two
years removed from their awards, even if they have changed venues/employers.
Distilleries must wait a year from their win before applying again. - Submission of participant application gives NCRLA the right to use each applicant’s
name, likeness, and background details as provided above for any promotional materials
related to this event, including but not limited to use online, printed materials, video,
social media, press releases, and advertisements. This information will also be shared
with event sponsors. - All participants agree to be photographed or taped for marketing or promotional
purposes during the competition events. - Competing bartenders and distillers certify that they meet all eligibility requirements,
and that participation is not in violation of any employment or other agreement. - NCRLA requests high-resolution versions of logos for marketing and promotional use, and requests that the contestants and their employers commit to promote the 2024 NCRLA Chef Showdown using both external and internal marketing channels.
- All participants will be asked to sign liability waivers at each venue. Every effort has been
made to make all phases of this competition safe events; however, competitors waive all
liability claims that may arise from participation in this event, including injury. - NCRLA reserves the right to reassign dates or replace contestants should it become
necessary (i.e. a contestant must dropout, becomes ill, or is in violation of any
competition rules, etc.). An employer or distillery may not replace a contestant. - NCRLA will not be liable for cancellation or postponement in the event of acts of God or
unforeseen national or regional events that are out of the control of organizers. - Safety and sanitation protocols should always remain a priority. Please use processes in
the competition bar that you would in your own bar or place of business when serving
the public. - Each North Carolina bartender or mixologist will compete in one of the two preliminary rounds of Mixology competition. In both the preliminary and regional rounds of mixology competition, each contestant will create one craft mocktail and one craft cocktail to present to the panel of judges. Contestants will need to prepare five (5) finished glasses of each drink. One pour for each of the four judges on the panel and one for the photos.
- The presentation cocktail must featuring at least one of the partner distillery’s spirits combined with as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. The craft mocktail must be alcohol-free and again, must feature as many locally sourced ingredients as possible.
- Ten (10) competing teams, selected based on judges scores and notes, will be invited to move on to the semi-final rounds and compete in one of two regional rounds of competition.
- The six (6) top scoring mixology teams will be invited to move on to compete in the 2024 NCRLA Aug 26 Grand Finale.
- When applying, bartenders and distillers must indicate the best dates for their preliminary round and regional round competitions and agree to be available for the Grand Finale event on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Bay 7 at the American Tobacco District in Durham NC
- All participating bartenders must be 21 years of age or older.
Preliminary Round Mixology Competition Rules and Procedures
There will be two preliminary rounds of competition for competing mixologists and distilleries. One for teams from Eastern NC, and another for teams from Western NC. Should a mixologist pair with a distiller from another part of the state, Chef Showdown organizers will work with the team to land on the best date and most convenient competition location for everyone concerned.
The dates for the 2024 Preliminary Rounds of Mixology Competition are:
April 8, 2024 for the Eastern NC round, in Raleigh, NC; location TBD
April 29, 2024 for the Western NC round, to be held at Broad Branch Distillery in Winston-Salem
- Bartenders are responsible for bringing their own ingredients, tools, glassware, and other
specialty items required to create their competition cocktails and mocktails. There will be ice at each venue, but should competition cocktails and mocktails require specialty ice, competitors will be responsible for bringing their own. - This competition is about taking cocktails to the next level and keeping ingredients as local as possible.
- Scoring at each round of mixology competition will be based on the best use of Got to be NC (North Carolina grown, raised, caught or made) ingredients in the glass; as well as, execution, organization, creativity, originality, presentation, and overall taste; and, in the competition cocktail, the best use of the partner distillery’s specific spirit(s).
- In addition to sourcing from local farms, bartenders and distillers will be introduced to
competition sponsors who would be delighted to provide North Carolina product for use
in cocktails and mocktails. Use of sponsor’s product is not required, nor will it be judged any
differently than any other North Carolina products. - Electrical equipment, such as popcorn machines, mixers, blenders, smoking guns, electric coil or solid burners or induction burners are allowed, if needed.
- At each round of mixology competition, contestants will present to a panel of past NCRLA Chef Showdown mixology champions and other professionals in the field.
- Competing teams of bartenders and distillers will present to the panel of judges throughout the day and will be assigned a specific presentation time.
- Competitors are responsible for clean up and washing of their glassware and equipment after their presentation. It is expected that competitors will leave the presentation bar area, neat and clean for the next contestant. There will be a sink, and dishwasher available at the host venues.
- Competitors are solely responsible for cleaning their workstations and keeping up with
all of their belongings. Competitors must bring everything they need to present. - Competitors may bring one assistant to help prep prior to the presentation to judges.
- Competitors may have components of competition cocktials and mocktails prepare in advance.
- For each preliminary round of competition, competitors are asked to arrive at the host
venue one hour prior to their presentation time, unless another time frame is agreed
upon by the competitors and NCRLA Chef Showdown organizers. - Competitors must submit the name and description of their cocktail and list of
ingredients prior to their competition date at a time and on a form specified in advance to Heidi Billotto at heidibillotto@gmail.com. Adjustments may be made to the ingredient list as needed
prior to judging. - No reimbursements for product, travel, lodging, labor, or any other expenses accrued for
participation will be offered by the NCRLA for the regional rounds. - The preliminary rounds of competition are not open to the public. Bartenders and distillers
may each bring up to two guests to observe the presentation, take photographs, promote on social
media, etc., however these guests may not share close up photos or details of each competition cocktail or mocktail until the beginning of May 2024. This is to ensure fairness to all teams. - Participating competitors and their guests must leave the venue once their presentation
is complete. - Detailed parking information and load in and load out instructions will be shared with
competitors prior to each round of competition.
Regional Rules and Procedures
The regional rounds of mixology competition for the 2024 series will take place in one of two North Carolina regions at these specific venues:
June 17, 2024 – Western NC semi-final Regional Round of Mixology Competition at Merle’s in Wilkesboro NC
July 1, 2024 – Eastern NC seni-final Regional Round of Competition, Native Fine Diner in Greenville, NC
Should a mixologist pair with a distiller from another part of the state, Chef Showdown organizers will work with the team to land on the best date and most convenient competition location for everyone concerned.
- All the above rules in the preliminary rounds apply to the regional rounds of
competition. - At the regional rounds of competition, mixologist will present to a panel of four judges, each a NC based mixologist or distiller and a past champion of the NCRLA Chef Showdown. Presentations will be 30 minutes in length during which time each mixologist will present a craft cocktail and mocktail. Contestants will be assigned a specific presentation time.
- Chefs must prepare five plates—four will be presented to the panel of judges and the fifth plate will be the photo plate, used for marketing and promotional purposes. Chefs must supply their own plates and all of the ingredients they need to complete their competition dishes.
- Competitors may not recreate the same cocktail and mocktail they presented in the preliminary round. But the regional round competing cocktail must again feature the spirit(s) of the partner distillery.
- The top scoring six (6) mixology teams will be invited to move on to the August 26 Grand Finale and must recreate their regional round cocktail and mocktail at the Grand Finale, but may make seasonal
changes as approved by the NCRLA Chef Showdown organizers. - Details of the regional round mocktail and cocktail and a list of ingredients and featured farms and producers at a specified date prior to each regional round.
- The titles of the NCRLA Mixologist of the Year, NCRLA Distillery of the Year and the award for the Best Mocktail of the Year will be announced the evening of Aug. 26, 2024, at the Grand Finale of the 2024 NCRLA Chef Showdown.
Grand Finale Rules and Procedures
Competing Mixology teams who move on to the finale must recreate the ame regional round cocktail and mocktail selected by the judges, but may make seasonal changes, as approved by the NCRLA Chef Showdown organizers.
- NCRLA will provide each distillery/bartender pairing with an individual bar, non-slip floor
mats, plastic serving ware, ice, and cocktail napkins. - Please note that the ice provided by the venue is not specialty ice.
- Based on the vote of the judges, one bartender will be named 2024 NCRLA Mixologist
of the Year, and the corresponding distillery will be named the 2024 NCRLA Distillery of
the Year. There will also be a separate award for the 2024 NCRLA Mocktail of the Year. All of the finalist cocktials and mocktails will be in the running for the People’s Choice awards for Best Cocktail and Best Mocktail. - All winners will be announced the evening of Aug 26, 2024. Contestants must be present
to win. - Bartenders and distillers must check in at the venue, Bay 7 at the American Tobacco District, by
a specific assigned time. - Distilleries and bartenders are encouraged to decorate their bar, however, the use of
large signage, banners or equipment must be approved in advance by NCRLA Chef Showdown
organizers. - All participants must be ready for photos and announcements at a specified time, at
which time they may not leave the building until the completion of the event. - Each bartender will be allowed one assistant to help create and serve ~500 sample-sized
portions of the competing cocktail and mocktail to event guests. - Each participating distillery/bartender team will receive a stipend for product used
for the finale. Stipend amounts will be announced prior to the regional rounds of competition - To receive reimbursement for goods, either the participating mixologist or distillery will be sent
a NCRLA reimbursement form, which is required to be returned to NCRLA with receipts - To receive the grocery reimbursement, participants will be sent a
NCRLA reimbursement form, which is required to be returned to NCRLA with receipts of
purchased product attached by September 15, 2024. Pre-payment is not available.
Reimbursements will be mailed no later than September 30, 2024. - Tickets for the 2024 NCRLA Chef Showdown Aug. 26 Grand Finale may be purchased online at
www.NCChefShowdown.com. There are no discounted rates available. - Participating mixologists, distillers and one mixology assistant are not required to purchase tickets for the event and each will receive one plus-one ticket to the 2024 NCRLA Chef Showdown Grand Finale.
- A dishwasher on staff at the host venue will be on hand and available to chef, should chefs require dish washing.
- Chefs are solely responsible for their belongings.
- Reimbursement is NOT AVAILABLE for travel, lodging, labor, or any other expenses
accrued for participation in the NCRLA Chef Showdown; however, NCRLA will do its very
best to work with area hotels to provide lodging for chefs traveling from more than 60
miles away. Competing mixologists and distillers will be informed of lodging arrangements for the 2024 Grand Finale in early August
North Carolina Department of Agriculture Culinary and Beverage Ambassador Team
The 2024-2025 North Carolina Department of Agriculture Chef Ambassadors will be announced
at the 2024 NCRLA Chef Showdown Grand Finale.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s mission is to develop and expand markets
through domestic and international channels for North Carolina’s food, fiber, and forestry
products.
Recognizing the valuable impact chefs and mixologists throughout the state can have on the achievement of that mission, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture Markets Division has created a Culinary and Beverage Ambassador Team. This team of talented culinarians will serve to support the
department’s efforts to promote the use of North Carolina food and beverage. Only six North
Carolina chefs and two NC Mixologists will be honored with the distinction of being awarded a spot on the team of culinary and beverage ambassadors each year.
The annual North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA) Chef Showdown competition will serve as the mechanism to build this highly regarded eight-member team.
As a part of the NCRLA Chef Showdown prize package, both the winner and the runner-up for
the titles of NCRLA Chef of the Year, NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year along with the Peoples’ Choice winners for Best Savory Dish and Best Dessert and the NCRLA Mixologist of the Year and the first runner up in this category will be conferred with the prestigious position of North Carolina Culinary or Beverage Ambassador.
With those titles, these chefs and mixologists will be awarded the honor of wearing the coveted blue chef coat or bar apron, each with the distinctive NC Culinary Ambassador logo.
If the People’s Choice award winners are the same as the first place and runner up of NCRLA Chef of the Year, NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year and NCRLA Mixologist of the Year, the competition’s second place runner-up for each title will be awarded the Ambassadorship.
North Carolina Culinary and Beverage Ambassadors serve for a one-year term, from August – July. This elite team of chefs and mixologists will be the culinary voice of the North Carolina Department of
Agriculture. Their job: to advocate the use of North Carolina food and beverage products in
restaurants and retail outlets across the state. The team will also assist in the department’s
marketing efforts on an as needed schedule, based on availability, thru cooking demonstrations,
television and video appearances, educational discussions on healthy eating, seasonal recipe
development and the general promotion of North Carolina’s food and agricultural industries.
