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Tickets on sale for Cook of the Week Challenge cook-off

If you want to attend the Cook of the Week Challenge Final Four Cook-off without the pressure of cooking with mystery ingredients, you'll be pleased to know that tickets for the Oct. 30 finale go on sale today.

Tickets cost $20 and are available at events.dailyherald.com.

Doors to the ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg open at 6 p.m. Once inside, guests will be treated to appetizers provided by the hotel and nibbles and product samples from our dozen-plus sponsors. One beverage ticket is included with admission and a cash bar will be available.

Cooking demonstrations will be presented by Hyatt chef John Junior and Now Foods corporate chef Suzy Singh as well as Whole Foods Market and The Sicilian Bakery.

Attendees also have an opportunity to win prizes in a raffle, with ticket sales benefiting the Northern Illinois Food Bank. A George Foreman grill, Elton John tickets, cooking classes, cookbooks and gift certificates are in the prize pool.

With all that going on, let's not overlook the real reason for the evening — the Cook of the Week Final Four Cook-off.

Four suburban home cooks (to be revealed Oct. 23) will have one hour to prepare a meal using mystery basket ingredients and a pantry stocked with supplies from our sponsors.

The contestants will present their dishes to a panel of judges. And by the end of the evening, reigning Cook of the Year Michael Pennisi will pass the spoon to the Daily Herald's Cook of the Year 2013.

After following this contest since late August, you'll want to make sure you're there for that.

16 step up to the plate

Meet our 16 Cook of the Week Challenge contestants

Recipe challenge week one: Flank steak, cucumbers and lime gelatin, courtesy of Alexian Brothers Health Systems

Roasted Acorn Squash, Wheat Berry, with Hazelnut Vinaigrette

Cook of the Week Challenge: First cooks tackle mystery ingredients

Contestants share their recipes

Pure Leaf Green Tea, pork loin chops and cauliflower

Cheddar Bacon Cauliflower Casserole

Garrett, Zilch advance in Cook of the Week Challenge

Round 1, week 2: Frozen multigrain waffles, canned green chiles and Alpine-style cheese provided by Green Country Tourism

Cook of the Week Challenge: Meet this week’s judges

Green Tea-Rosemary Pork Chops with Cranberry-Apricot Stuffing

Meet the Round 1, Week 2 judges

What’s in store for Week 4 contestants

Smokey Risotto with Peas

Round 2 Week 3: 365 Everyday Value frozen peas and Porte Brown CPA $20 budget

Farro Varnishkas with a Savory Mushroom Herb Sauce

Fire Roasted Red Pepper and Grape Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing

Curried Salmon and Roasted Corn Fritters with Greek Yogurt Sauce

Round 1, Week 3: Canned salmon, farro, grapes and red peppers compliments of the Hyatt Woodfield Schaumburg

Cook of the Week Challenge Fan Favorites

Wiktorek, Murphy advance to Round 2

Cook of the Week Challenge Fan Favorites

Sweet on honey and new honey cookbook

Elgin area guys cook their way into Round 2

Ground lamb, Now Foods sesame snack sticks and Bron’s Bee Co raw honey

Meet the Week 3 Cook of the Week Challenge judges

Round 1, week 4: Quaker old-fashion oats, cod fillets, dried currants and portobello mushrooms provided by Waterleaf restaurant

Red Cabbage and Kale Salad

Crusted Lamb and Ham Loaf with Yogurt Sauce

Wild Rice Portobello Mushroom Caps

Mini Lemon-Currant Cups

EnchiCODas

AquaCODte Tacos

Discovering the pure joy of homemade mayonnaise

Cook of the Week Challenge Fan Favorites

Get better acquainted with the Cook of the Week Challenge semifinalists

Meet the Round 1, Week 4 judges

'Less is more' recipes move Monaco, Motyka to Round 2

No one gets 'Chopped' in our cooking contest

Herb-Infused Watermelon Granita

Grilled Radicchio-Romaine Salad with Pumpkin Seeds and dried Cherries

Radicchio, swordfish from Devon Seafood, Pepper Palace Sweet Bourbon Glaze and watermelon

Beets from Harper College, havarti cheese from Green Co. tourism board, turkey legs and orange marmalade

  Cook of the Year Michael Pennisi gets a pat on the back from runner-up Louann Zundel during the 2012Â’s Cook of the Week Challenge Cook-off. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com, 2012
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