Cooking for the Kids Returns with a Multi-Night Chef Competition for a Cause

Rocky Top Catering’s eighth annual Cooking for the Kids returns this winter, bringing together eight of the Triangle’s top chefs for a multi-night culinary competition benefiting Overflowing Hands, a 100% volunteer-led nonprofit serving vulnerable children locally and globally.

Hosted at the elegant Millbrook Manor, each competition night features two chefs going head-to-head in a six-course dining experience. Chefs will prepare an appetizer, entrée, and dessert using surprise ingredients, with guests and a panel of judges voting to decide who advances. A cash bar, silent auction, and serious culinary creativity round out the experience—all in support of a great cause.

Participating chefs include talent from Whiskey Kitchen, Glasshouse Kitchen, Wye Hill Kitchen, Irregardless Café, Lula & Sadie’s, Black Apron, Lake Gaston, and Tepuy Donuts.

📍 Millbrook Manor – 1705 E. Millbrook Road, Raleigh
📅 January 26–29, February 4–5 & February 10, 2026 – Evenings run 5:30–9 p.m. (finale until 10 p.m.)
💸 Tickets:
First Round: $100
Second Round: $125
Finale: $150

WEATHER UPDATES TO DATES AND TIMING

Rocky Top Catering’s 8th Annual Cooking for the Kids, a multi-night culinary competition benefiting Overflowing Hands, has announced new rescheduled dates due to recent weather impacts.

WHEN (NEW DATES):

First Round

Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. – James Eason of Irregardless | Ryan Grimm of Blue Jay Bistro
Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Kyle Teears of Whiskey Kitchen | Caleb Parker of Black Apron
Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Kyle Fletcher of Glasshouse Kitchen | Alejandro Contreras of Tepuy Donuts
Thursday, February 5, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Harry Monds of Lula and Sadies | Bobby McFarland of Wye Hill Kitchen

Tickets for the first round are $100.00 each.

Second Round

Wednesday, February 10, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 11, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Tickets for the second round are $125.00 each.

Finale

Tuesday, February 24, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets for the finale are $150.00 each.

💙 Proceeds benefit Overflowing Hands, a 100% volunteer-led 501(c)(3) organization serving vulnerable children in our neighborhoods, across the United States, and around the world.

Image: Magdalena Stefanek Photography

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Author
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Lisa Jeffries Nobling

Founder + Principal at Raleighwood Media Group + Raleighwood Event Group

Lisa Jeffries, a 2007 graduate of N.C. State University’s Wilson College of Textiles and Poole College of Management, has been working in marketing since 2005. Her professional work experience ranges from independent, family-owned businesses to high-growth tech startups. Lisa’s specific areas of expertise include new media and experiential marketing for service-based businesses. Passionate about her clients, cheering on the Wolfpack, live music, and rescuing animals, she is also the founder of Raleigh Food & Wine and Raleighwood Wifi. Lisa completed the NC State + SKEMA Business School MSc dual master’s degree program in Global Luxury Management in 2016, publishing a thesis, Location-Based Opportunities for Brand Marketing With Emphasis on Application Within Luxury Industries.

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