'Final Fire' pits finalists in competition dining

Tickets are on sale now for "Final Fire," the chef competition in November that pits winners of regional N.C. competitions to determine a champion. The events will be at the Renaissance North Hills Hotel in Raleigh.

Charlotte's winner, Jon Fortes, formerly with Mimosa Grill but now at The Flipside Cafe in Fort Mill, gets a first-round bye. The events, dubbed the Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series, begin Nov. 19 with "Fire on the Dock" champion (for the Wilmington area) Antoine Murray of the Cape Fear Country Club facing "Fire on the Rock" winner Michelle Bailey of Season's at Highland Lake in Flat Rock. Fortes, who won "Fire in the City," will take on the winner of that match on Nov. 20.

"Fire in the Triad" champ Tim Thompson of Marisol in Greensboro faces "Fire in the Triangle" winner Dean Thompson of Flights in Raleigh on Nov. 21.

Tickets to those are $129 (plus tax, tip and drinks). The Nov. 22 finale will cost $139; all are available online.