Can Evan Wessel outcook Schane Gross? We’re about to find out

The annual Celebrity & Chef Cookoff, one of Wichita’s most fun and successful food fundraisers, is less than a week away.

This year’s event, the 16th annual, is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13 at Intrust Bank Arena. It’s a fundraiser for the Orpheum Theatre that includes food, drink and a show: Six local celebrities are paired with six local chefs and asked to cook a gourmet dish on the spot in 45 minutes using ingredients provided, plus a secret ingredient.

The cast of competing characters is interesting as usual. Among the celebrities on the roster are former Shocker basketball star Evan Wessel, who now works in Wichita as a financial advisor; vice mayor Janet Miller; and Schane Gross, owner of The Anchor. Each will be paired with a local chef, and the names on the roster include Ben George, the executive chef at Intrust Bank Arena; Josh Rathbun, the executive chef at Siena Tuscan Steakhouse; and Stephanie Hand, the executive chef and cafe manager for Reverie Roasters.

I’m one of the event’s longtime judges, and I always leave stuffed but impressed by the abilities of the chefs and their helpers.

Tickets are $90 a person, and attendees also get food samples from a long list of restaurants, including Douglas Avenue Chop Shop, Noble House Hawaiian, Bagel Haus and more. The event also includes a live and silent auction.

For tickets, visit www.wichitaorpheum.com.

This story was originally published June 8, 2017 at 9:38 AM.