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.