Sacramento is quickly becoming a hot spot in the Culinary World. New and unique eateries have opened their doors across the Capital City and culinary arts programs are filled to the brim with students eager to try their hand at running a professional kitchen.  With the right climate for fine wine and a collection of stellar breweries, the Sacramento region has seen a gastronomic explosion on a grand scale.  And, what better way to celebrate this culinary surge than with a little friendly competition?

On Friday, April 29^th, the Celebrity Chef Challenge will separate the chefs from the cooks as six of our region’s finest compete for culinary glory. Challengers will have 45 minutes to turn five secret ingredients into three power-packed dishes in front of a live audience. “We wanted to bring the excitement of “Iron Chef” cooking to Sacramento,” said Diana DeRodeff, Executive Director of InAlliance, the non-profit organization that hosts the event.

The event will be held at the California Automobile Museum (formerly the towe), which houses nearly 72,000 square feet of automotive excellence.  For the $50 advance ticket price, guests will get to tour the museum, watch the challenge and the cake competition, and sample from over 100 restaurant, wineries and breweries.

The 2011 Celebrity Chef Challengers include: Evan Elsberry of Evan’s Kitchen, Jim Turknett of the Vizcaya Pavilion, Keith Erickson of Colusa Casino Resort, Mark Liberman of Black Sheep Butchery, Ramiro Alarcon of Tequila Museo Mayahuel and Richard Pannell of Table 260.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online by visiting www.chefevent.com or by calling 916-381-1300 x 170