One of North Lake Tahoe’s most heated competitions will pit culinary comrades against each other to determine who rightfully deserves the title of Mountain Chef at the Blazing Pans Cook-Off Sept. 12. The cook-off is part of the three-day Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival (Sept. 11-13) at the Village at Northstar in Truckee.

Reigning champion Mike Trombetta, owner of Farm to Belly Personal Chef Services, was considered a relative newcomer last year when he out-cooked Jacques Cornelis of the Resort at Squaw Creek. This year he will be challenged by David Lutz, owner of Tahoe City’s Evergreen Restaurant.

The one-hour competition will entail both chefs taking one main, secret ingredient and creating as many delicious dishes as possible in the allotted time. The ingredient will not be revealed until moments prior to the start of the clock.

The Blazing Pans Mountain Chef Cook-Off begins at 4:15pm. Tickets for the event cost $15 and include a Charbay cocktail, hosted by Charbay Artisan Winery and Distillery. For more information about the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival, call 888.229.2193 or go to www.tahoefoodandwine.com.