"Local Chef Challenge" tickets still available

The bad news is that tickets for Saturday's "Food and Wine Experience" events at the Minneapolis Convention Center done sold out.

The good news is that you can still weasel in to a) tonight's opening events and b) Sunday's events.

Take particular note of Sunday. Don't think that just because it's the second and final day of the exhibition that it is somehow the leftovers, because it will include perhaps the most exciting event of the weekend: local chefs going mano a mano.

Semi-finals carrying over from Saturday's first round will take place at noon, and the final challenge will include two chefs, winnowed down from eight, preparing a first course and entree in front of the crowd.

Competing chefs include Vincent Frouncal of Vincent, Asher Miller of 20.21 and Scott Pampuch of The Corner Table. The original itinerary included Steven Brown, formerly of Porter & Frye. The restaurant's Erik Anderson has stepped up to take his place in the competition.

Take note: It ain't cheap. Exhibition hall tickets for Sunday are $65/70 at the door.