Concord Hospitality Chef Takes Home Top Honors in a Cooking Competition for a Cause

Chef Kevin Smith of 41Hundred at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel wins grand prize at the Cooking for a Classic 2020

RALEIGH, N.C. (March 18, 2020) – After three days of intense competition, Chef Kevin Smith was named the winner of Cooking for a Classic 2020, a fundraiser for The Lucy Daniels Center. All proceeds from the event fund direct emotional and mental health services for children birth to 12 years old, the time of life when the most effective interventions are possible. Smith has been Executive Chef at 41Hundred at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel, a Concord Hospitality-managed property, since 2018.

Now in its fourth year, the Cooking for a Classic competition featured eight celebrated chefs this year. Participating chefs competed head-to-head in a tournament-style event over seven nights and three rounds in order to claim the top prize: a 2002 Chevrolet Corvette convertible. The Grand Finale took place on March 11 and culminated with attendees and a panel of guest judges selecting Chef Smith as the Grand Prize-winning chef.

“The Triangle area of North Carolina is full of chefs doing innovative things in the culinary world,” said Dean Wendel, Vice President of Food and Beverage for Concord Hospitality. “We are extremely proud that a Concord Hospitality chef came out on top in a competition made up of some of these talented chefs, and even more proud the event was for such a good cause. The entire Concord Hospitality team would like to extend our congratulations to Chef Smith and 41Hundred.”

The final round of competition pitted Smith against fellow finalist Chef Kyle Fletcher from Raleigh’s Wye Hill Kitchen. The chefs had to prepare a three-course meal with one secret ingredient in each dish. The dishes utilized ingredients from local farms and companies.

41Hundred focuses on fresh, local, high-quality ingredients and simple yet memorable food and drink, all served in a casual ambience. Prior to his appointment as executive chef, Smith served as executive sous chef at 41Hundred, during which time he was recognized as a two-time Midtown Iron Chef Competition winner. Prior to that, he held positions as sous chef for Sitti Restaurant and for North Carolina State University’s Alumni Club, both located in Raleigh.

According to event organizers, Cooking for a Classic 2020 raised thousands of dollars for the Lucy Daniels Center, a Cary-based nonprofit that helps families and children with social, emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges. Learn more about the Lucy Daniels Center and Cooking for a Classic online.