Queen City Homestore’s annual cooking competition with the Charlotte Checkers benefits local charity

Deeandra Michel,

CHARLOTTE, NC– Three Checkers players traded their hockey sticks for spatulas and took part in the annual Chopped Challenge charity cooking competition, presented by Queen City Homestore – the newly rebranded identity of Queen City Audio Video & Appliances.

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Ben Steeves with Orlando Evans

The event held in live Monogram, Fisher & Paykel and Frigidaire kitchens paired each player with one of three professional chefs provided by Blake Mitkoff of InsideChef – Cameron Sperber, Orlando Evans and Kirsten Burdette – and they each prepared a dish to present to a panel of judges comprised of local news personalities, including WCCB’s sports reporter Jack Taylor.

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Each player took to the stoves to prepare their dishes with their assigned chef: Ben Steeves with Orlando Evans, Riese Gabers with Cameron Sperber and on the winning team, Sandis Vimanis along side Kiersten Burdette.

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Cameron Sperber with Riese Gabers

Vimanis and Burdette won the judges over with their sweet and savory salmon dish, dressed with sautéed veggies, a mandatory secret ingredient, cactus.

The winning team received a $5,000 donation to the Dream on 3 foundation.

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Sandis Vimanis with Kiersten Burdette.

The charity gives children the opportunity to live out their ultimate sports dreams through customized experiences with a favorite athlete, sporting event, or sports team.

Check out the gallery to see all the action from the Checkers and Queen City Homestore Chopped challenge.