Chef bringing competition cooking series to Wilmington

Chef Jeffrey Porter of Port City Pop-Ups, has created a competition cooking series that will challenge eight chefs in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach in a bracket-style showdown.

The series kicks off Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. with chef Bobby Watkins of Ceviche's facing off with chef Josh Petty of Cast Iron Kitchen in the first round, "Battle At The Beach." The chefs will each plate six courses that ticket-holders can enjoy at 22 North in Wrightsville Beach.

Porter is keeping the next round of chefs secretive, but said eventually the winners from the two beach rounds will face off for a semi-final. The winner of the Wrightsville Beach semi-final will face off with the winner who emerges from four chefs that compete in downtown Wilmington.

Porter recently returned to Wilmington and has re-started his long-running series Port City Pop-Ups, hosting special dinner events with locally-sourced ingredients in a fine-dining setting. He also announced he is leasing the kitchen space at 22 North, where he will host the competition events, pop-up dinners and lobster nights each Friday.

Few tickets remain, but can be purchased for $60 each at www.portcitypop-ups.com.

Reporter Ashley Morris can be reached at 910-343-2096 or Ashley.Morris@StarNewsOnline.com.