# Event Details - **Event Name**: Fire & Flare - Local Student Culinary Competition - **Event Start and End Date**: Mon, 28 Sep, 2026 at 05:30 pm – Mon, 28 Sep, 2026 at 08:30 pm (-08:00) - **Event Description**: Watch Alaska’s next generation of chefs take on a live, Chopped-style culinary competition, putting their skills to the test as they’re mentAbout this EventAn Evening of Food, Fire & Alaska's Next Generation of Culinary TalentMonday, September 28, 2026Doors Open: 5:30 PMEverett's at Mat-Su Resort | WasillaTickets: $75 per personJoin the NACE Anchorage Chapter for the inaugural Fire & Flare, an evening where Alaska's emerging culinary talent takes center stage.High-school culinary students from across Southcentral Alaska will step into a professional kitchen for a live, Chopped-style culinary competition.Student teams will create one hot and one cold appetizer for judging, with their creations also served exclusively to our sponsor VIP tables. Throughout the competition, guests will get a behind-the-scenes look at the action through a live kitchen feed provided by Alaska AV while enjoying a beautifully prepared buffet dinner by Chef Rob of US Foods.And they'll have some extraordinary company in the kitchen.SPECIAL GUEST: CHEF MARC ANTHONY BYNUMThree-Time Food Network Chopped ChampionChef Marc Bynum brings more than 25 years of culinary experience and three Chopped championships to Fire & Flare.His own culinary journey began as a high-school student, making his participation in Fire & Flare especially meaningful. Today, in addition to his work as a chef and restaurateur, Chef Marc has turned part of his focus toward mentoring and encouraging the next generation of chefs and hospitality professionals.Chef Marc brings his experience competing and winning on the national stage, but he won't be mentoring these students alone. Fire & Flare brings together Alaska culinary and hospitality professionals who work in this industry every day and share a commitment to developing its next generation.THE PEOPLE BEHIND FIRE & FLAREChef Rob | US Foods is well known in Alaska's culinary community for his commitment to students and emerging culinary professionals. He works with young people throughout the year, sharing his experience, supporting culinary education and helping students make connections within the industry.At Fire & Flare, Chef Rob will work alongside our student competitors, providing mentorship and professional insight throughout the experience. He is also the chef behind the evening's Fire & Flare dinner, creating and preparing the buffet our guests will enjoy throughout the competition. US Foods is generously donating the food for both the student competition and guest dinner.Chef Naomi | Bargreen Ellingson has been instrumental in developing the Fire & Flare competition itself. She helped shape the culinary challenge and designed the judging rubric that will guide how each team's dishes are evaluated, bringing her professional culinary experience to the structure behind the competition.On event night, Chef Naomi will be in the competition kitchen working directly with our students, helping them navigate the challenge and providing the kind of hands-on mentorship she gives young culinary professionals throughout the year. From helping design the competition to mentoring students as they compete, Chef Naomi has truly been one of the culinary minds behind Fire & Flare.Amber and the team at Everett's at Mat-Su Resort bring another important piece of workforce development to Fire & Flare. Everett's actively hires teens and young adults, giving them opportunities to learn on the job, gain real-world experience and develop professional skills within the culinary and hospitality industry.And you won't have to wonder what's happening behind those kitchen doors.Alaska AV will provide a live feed from the competition kitchen into the bar and event space, giving guests a behind-the-scenes view as our student chefs race the clock, tackle their mystery ingredients and bring their dishes to life.YOUR FIRE & FLARE DINNERPrepared by Chef Rob of US FoodsCome hungry. While our students take on their culinary challenge, guests will enjoy:Double L Braised Short Ribswith Cabernet Demi-GlaceAlaskan Salmonglazed with locally sourced spruce-tip misoBaby Baked Potatoeswith garlic and ParmesanRoasted Brassicawith pumpkin seeds and pickled grapesHeirloom Baby CarrotsBasque CheesecakeDubai CakeWHILE THE JUDGES DELIBERATE...The knives can come down, but the energy won't.Robbie Cardon of RC Detail will take the microphone as our auctioneer for a fast and lively 10-basket live auction while the judges make their final decisions.Then we'll turn the spotlight right back where it belongs: on our student chefs, as we announce the winners of the inaugural Fire & Flare competition.MORE THAN A GREAT DINNERFire & Flare was created to connect students with the culinary, catering and event professionals who make Alaska's hospitality industry happen.Your ticket doesn't simply buy dinner. It puts you in the room cheering on young people as they test their skills, meet potential mentors and employers, and discover where a passion for food could take them.Tickets are $75 per person.A NOTE FOR OUR STUDENT FAMILIESIf the parent or guardian of a participating student needs financial assistance to attend, please contact Mickela Olson directly at 907-529-6458. We will work with you privately.THANK YOU TO OUR FIRE & FLARE PARTNERSEverett's at Mat-Su ReportHost VenueUS FoodsLead Ingredient Sponsor & Food PartnerBargreen EllingsonCulinary Mentorship & Kitchen Operations PartnerAlaska AVLive Production & Kitchen FeedAdditional sponsors and community partners will be announced as they join us.Presented by the NACE Anchorage Chapter - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/wasilla/fire-and-flare-local-student-culinary-competition/100001999818951317 - **Event Categories**: fitness, food-drinks, Contests, Sports - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 81.88, max: 81.88, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Wasilla - **state**: AK - **country**: United States - **location**: Everett's - **lat**: 61.58694440000001 - **long**: -149.4047222 - **full address**: Everett's, 1850 Bogard Road, Wasilla, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Fire & Flare - Local Student Culinary Competition - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/17ed5aca693fbeb368d186879795c7be9c06d36dd62201b272809897c8b857ed-rimg-w1200-h628-dc080808-gmir.jpg?v=1788670881 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Fire & Flare - Local Student Culinary Competition being held? - **A:** Fire & Flare - Local Student Culinary Competition takes place on Mon, 28 Sep, 2026 at 05:30 pm to Mon, 28 Sep, 2026 at 08:30 pm at Everett's, 1850 Bogard Road, Wasilla, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Fire & Flare - Local Student Culinary Competition? - **A:** Fire & Flare - Local Student Culinary Competition is organized by National Association of Catering and Events Anchorage Chapter. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Fire & Flare - Local Student Culinary Competition", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/17ed5aca693fbeb368d186879795c7be9c06d36dd62201b272809897c8b857ed-rimg-w1200-h628-dc080808-gmir.jpg?v=1788670881", "startDate": "2026-09-28T17:30:00-08:00", "endDate": "2026-09-28T20:30:00-08:00", "url": "https://allevents.in/wasilla/fire-and-flare-local-student-culinary-competition/100001999818951317", "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Everett's", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "1850 Bogard Road", "postalCode": "99654", "addressLocality": "Wasilla", "addressRegion": "AK", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "61.58694440000001", "longitude": "-149.4047222" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Watch Alaska’s next generation of chefs take on a live, Chopped-style culinary competition, putting their skills to the test as they’re ment", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-06", "availabilityEnds": "2026-09-28T20:30:00-08:00", "validFrom": "2026-09-06", "lowPrice": "81.88", "highPrice": "81.88", "price": "81.88", "url": "https://allevents.in/wasilla/fire-and-flare-local-student-culinary-competition/100001999818951317" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-06", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-06", "url": "https://allevents.in/wasilla/fire-and-flare-local-student-culinary-competition/100001999818951317", "price": "81.88", "name": "General Admission" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "National Association of Catering and Events Anchorage Chapter", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/national-association-of-catering-and-events-anchorage-chapter/22641570", "description": "The National Association for Catering and Events (NACE), the oldest and largest catering association in the world, encompasses all aspects of the catering and events industry. 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