Sep. 17--Folks heading to Chattanooga Market on Sunday should prepare themselves for an extraordinary sensory experience.

The seventh annual Cast-Iron Cooking theme of this week's market will feature area chefs vying for a championship recipe title. And it's going to be fun for onlookers, said market spokesman Paul Smith.

"The chefs come in at noon with no idea of what they are going to cook," Smith said.

After they are given a meat to prepare, they receive food vouchers to shop for locally produced food items from market vendors to prepare a dish on-site.

"They're given one hour to shop and one hour to cook," Smith said.

This year's participating chefs are returning champion Wolfgang Poe, Red Rock Grill; Michelle Huffman Wells, Events With Taste; Amanda Varnell, Cooking Live; Mike Nefziger, "Chef Mike" on Pulse radio; and Junior Crutcher, Jet Stream Grill.

The prepared dishes will be judged by a panel of University of Tennessee athletic coaches and ESPN radio personalities.

The food will be prepared in cast-iron skillets from event sponsor Lodge Manufacturing.

Additionally, Varnell will host her monthly Chattanooga Market edition of "Cooking Live" from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets, $15, give each participant a generous portion of samples, bottled water and recipe packet. This week's topic is weeknight dinners made easy using fresh ingredients available at the market.

This week's entertainment will be provided by songwriter/singer/guitarist Nathan Bell, 12:30-1:30 p.m., and country rockers Somebody's Darling, 4:15-5:15 p.m.

IF YOU GO

--What: Cast-Iron Cooking challenge.

--When: 11 p.m.-4 p.m. Sunday (chefs cooking 1:30-2:30 p.m., judging 2:30-3:30 p.m.).

--Where: First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Carter St.

--Admission: Free.

--Phone: 648-2496.

--Web site: www.chattanoogamarket.com.

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Copyright (c) 2009, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.

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