Its October and that means its time for the annual NC State Fair held in Raleigh NC.
It is my pleasure to be in Raleigh for the 10-day stretch of the NC State Fair, from Thursday October 12 to Sunday October 22, 2023.
My home-away-from-home? You’ll find me inside the historic Dorton Arena Building, at the GotToBeNC cooking stage, hosting three individual cooking demos each day at 1, 3 and 5 pm.
This year, as last, the cooking stage will be surrounded by the GotTobeNC Pavilion of local North Carolina vendors.
The 2023 NC State Fair GotToBeNC Cooking Stage
Enjoy three chef-driven cooking demonstrations each day of the fair at 1 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm. On the first day of the fair – Oct 12, demos will be at 3 pm and 5 pm.
Nearly 30 chefs from across the state will share recipes and show you how to cook, eat and drink with locally sourced North Carolina ingredients.
At many of the demos, chefs will pair up with NC farmers to talk about where our food comes from.
Watch the preparation of new recipes featuring local product, produce and proteins at each demo
But that’s not all. On the 2023 cooking stage we are drinking local as well as eating local. Each chefs demo will be paired with an award-winning NC wine.
Join Me Onstage at the GotToBeNC Chefs’ Table
Seating is available for each of the cooking demos. Fairgoers can expect giveaways, trivia contests and a chance to come up onstage to eat with the featured chefs at a special Chef’s Table.
At each individual demo, four to six lucky people from the crowd will get to come onstage to sit at the best seat in the house.
Chefs’ Table participants will enjoy a ringside view of all the action, get photos taken with each presenting chefs and enjoy plated portions of each of the dishes created during each individual demo. There will be chefs’ table gift bags as well.
Cooking demos will run 45 mins to an hour; and the recipes for each demo will be posted on these digital pages with pictures and all the tips and tricks after the fact.
Here’s a quick run down of all you can expect at this years cooking stage. Follow me on instagram and Facebook for daily previews of all the action. I’ll also be posting videos of my favorite fair foods each day on insta, so you don’t want to miss that either.
Here’s What’s Cookin’ The First Week of the NC State Fair
Thursday Oct 12
3 pm -Chef Nicholas Chavez from King Neptune Restaurant in Wrightsville Beach NC – How to make an all local NC Pork Bahn Mi Sammie
5 pm – Chef Mauricio Huarcaya – The Green House Restaurant in Wilmington NC – The Savory Side of NC Sweetpotatoes
Friday Oct 13
1 pm – Chef Mary Jane Wilson of Thoughtful Baking Company in Charlotte NC is making her delicious chicken soup with rice and a wonderful dessert in this Comfort Foods for Fall cooking demo.
3 pm – Chef Chris Bugher, culinary instructor from AB Tech in Asheville NC plans to wwalk on the scary side of things with a Friday the 13th Foods and Fun featuring NC Pork from Masterblend Family Farm.
5 pm – It’s Time for Oyster Stew as, Chef Ricky Moore of Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham NC cooks with Lighthouse Shoals Oysters.
Saturday Oct 14
1pm – Chef James Clarkson – Carteret Community College Culinary School – Cooking from the Carolina Coast
3pm – Chef Luke Owens – Native Fine Diner and Julep Contemporary Kitchen in Greenville NC – Cooking with NC Beef
5pm – Chef Preeti Waas – Cheeni Indian Emporium in Raleigh and Durham NC – A Taste of Cheeni
Sunday Oct 15
1 pm – Chef Keith Rhodes Catch Restaurant and Tacklebox Kitchen in Wilmington NC – A Taste of Tacklebox Kitchen
3 pm – Chef Keith Rhodes Catch Restaurant and Tacklebox Kitchen in Wilmington NC – Cooking from Catch Restaurant
5 pm – NCRLA Chef of the Year – Chef Adé Carrena of Dounou Cuisine and iLéwA Spices in Raleigh – West African Cuisine, A Bite of Benin with a NC twist
The Second Week of Cooking Stage Fun at the NC State Fair
Monday Oct 16
1pm – Chef Tie Whitaker – Buttermilk Boutique – Cooking with Ran Lew Dairy Buttermilk – How to make Homemade Fudge
3pm – 2023 NCRLA Mixologist of the Year Stephanie Elliott from Merle’s in Wilkesboro – Drink Local with Fall Cocktails and Mocktails
5pm – Food Network Champion Chef Sera Cuni – Root Cellar Café in Pittsboro NC – What’s in the Mystery Basket? Chef Sera will be cooking up some fun with Tidewater Grain Carolina Gold Rice and Ran Lew Dairy Milk
Tuesday Oct 17
1 pm – Pastry Chef Tie Whitaker of Buttermilk Boutique in Clayton NC is back and this day showing us all how to making Homemade Marshmallows! You’re Gonna Want S’more… as Tie shares with us the sweeter side of cooking with NC Eggs
3 pm – Chef Winde Jackson-Davis of Winde Jackson Cakes in Rocky Mount is also back this year, cooking with NC Eggs. You’ll love her fun fall breakfasts and brunches ideas.
5 pm –Celebrated cookbook authors, Tom and Rachel Sullivan of Raleigh NC – Favorite Recipes from “Meals She Eats”
Wednesday Oct 18
Three delicious reasons to Visit Jacksonville NC
1 pm – Chef Morgan Jenkins from The Flavor Hills in Jacksonville NC – Modern Southern Comfort Cuisine
3 pm – Captain John Mallette from Southern Breeze Seafood in Jacksonville NC – Fried Turkey at its Finest
5 pm – Chef Juan Gonzalez of El Cerro Tacos in Jacksonville, NC
Take Your Next Taco Tuesday Up a Notch
Thursday Oct 19
1 pm – Chef and cookbook Author Sharon Peele Kennedy – What’s for Supper? NC Catch comes to the Table
3 pm – Chef Jake Wolf from Capital Club 16 in Raleigh – Oktoberfest Fun and Food
5 pm – NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year Emily Parker – Corn Flower Bake House in Greenville NC – Sweet Treats with NC Sweetpotatoes
The last weekend for 2023 on the Cooking Stage
Friday Oct 20 –
1 pm – Jason Allen of Carolina Cooker cast iron with Tidewater Grain Carolina Gold Rice and BFR Meats – The World’s Largest Chicken Bog
3 pm – Chef Andres Prussing – Stoke at the Marriott Center City in Charlotte NC – Cooking with NC Beef
5 pm – Chef Andres Prussing – Stoke at the Marriott Center City in Charlotte NC – Southern Fall Specialities
Saturday Oct 21
1 pm – Chef Stephen Hertz -AB Tech Culinary School in Asheville – Cooking with NC Lamb
3 pm – Chef Stephen Hertz – AB Tech Culinary School in Asheville – Cooking with NC Beef
5 pm – Chef Keith Henning from Blackpowder Smokehouse in Jamestown NC – Up in Smoke – Cooking with NC Pork
Sunday Oct 22
1 pm – Chef Jamie Davis from The Hackney in Washington NC with Captain John Mallette of Southern Breeze Seafood in Jacksonville NC – How to Cut and Cook NC Seafood
3 pm – Chef Jamie Davis from The Hackney in Washington NC with Lighthouse Shoals Oysters from Oriental NC – Cooking with NC Oysters
5 pm – NCRLA Chef of the Year – Chef Adé Carrena of Dounou Cuisine and iLéwA Spices in Raleigh – West African Cuisine, A Bite of Benin with a NC twist