'Top Chef' chefs stop in Charlotte May 17

Charlotte is the first stop on the newest "Top Chef" tour of 15 cities. May 17, Hector Santiago (from Season 6, below) will face off with Nikki Cascone (Season 4, right) in live cookoffs, with judges from around here - and an audience, of course.

(For hardcore fans: If you go to the tour's Facebook page, you'll find a place to tell organizers whether you think the two should have to cook shrimp or pork in the cookoff.)

Also scheduled to be on hand, at 225. E. 7th St., across from the 7th Street Public Market: "a 'Top Chef'-themed Cornhole Toss," "a 'Top Chef' Horseshoe Toss" and "Tip the Scale," in which you'll have to arrange items by weight.

Shows will be at 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m.

Info: bravo.ly/KaKZoW