Things are heating up.

The 8th annual Celebrity Chef Challenge, taking place on April 30 at the California Auto Museum, is equipped with six new contenders that will have 45 minutes to create three culinary masterpieces out of five secret ingredients.

Guests will have front row seats to the competition and free range to all of the goodies including free samples from 100 food and wine vendors, a tour of the hot rod car show and a cake creation demo provided by Crazy Cake Company.

One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to InAlliance, a nonprofit foundation providing employment placement and life and work skills training to people with disabilities.

According to Jessica Bean, public relations coordinator for InAlliance, “The past year has not been kind to people with developmental disabilities and it is important to raise funds for services that can help them become productive members of society.”

In addition the entire event will be eco-friendly and all cups, plates, bowls, utensils and cleaning supplies will be biodegradable and recycled. EarthSmart Products and SMUD will be providing the products being used throughout the event which will be corn and potato based.

“The Celebrity Chef Challenge is the major fundraiser for the programs InAlliance provides our communities most vulnerable citizens,” said Bean.

Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. For more information please visit the chef event website or watch the event video. 

Photo courtesy of Celebrity Chef Challenge 2009.