Feed Your Soul founder Christa Glennie Seychew presents the fourth season of Nickel City Chef, a local cooking competition that pits a reigning champion—one of four battle-tested head chefs of Buffalo restaurants—against a worthy challenger in front of a live audience. The competitors use local ingredients to create three separate dishes in one hour, and the creations are judged by a live panel. The Nickel City Chef competition closely mirrors the Food Network’s Iron Chef America show, just with more of a local slant.

Although the four-part season begins on Feb. 19, individual tickets become available at noon on Friday, and you must act quickly, as the 150 to 200 seats for each showcase are expected to sell out in fewer than 36 hours. That’s crazy fast!

Entrance to each competition costs $38 but comes with catered gourmet snacks and the availability of a nearby cash bar during the show. The hosts are master chef Mike Andrzejewski of Seabar and WBFO’s Bert Gambini. Here’s the link you’ll need come noon Friday.

Here’s the schedule for the head-to-head competitions:

Feb. 19: Nickel City Chef Krista van Wagner of Curly’s vs. challenger Chef Frank Mercado of M & T’s private executive dining room.

March 4: NCC Brian Mietus of Bacchus vs. challenger Chef Dunbar Berdine of Black Rock Kitchen & Bar.

March 25: NCC Adam Goetz of Sample vs. challenger Chef Christopher Daigler of Encore

April 15: NCC JJ Richert of Torches vs. challenger Chef Chris Dorsaneo of Lloyd Taco Truck.

Think the creations in the video above are awesome, and you’re eager to recreate them? There’s a Nickel City Chef book for sale that houses the recipes and tips that these renowned chefs abide by.

For more information about Seychew, Feed Your Soul and Nickel City Chef, listen to Buffalo Eats’ podcast!