Chef Tre Wilcox is turning his Plano culinary venue into a live competition arena featuring DFW’s top restaurant talent

The pressure of a professional kitchen is coming to the stage. Chef Tre Wilcox is launching Monday Night Chef SmackDown, a five-event live culinary competition series that will bring some of North Texas’ top chefs into head-to-head mystery-basket battles at TRE Cooking Concepts in Plano.

Beginning Sept. 21, the chef-led venue will transform into a “Kitchen Stadium,” where 10 chefs will compete across five nights, racing against the clock to create dishes using surprise ingredients in front of a live audience.

A Culinary Competition Without A Script

Unlike a traditional cooking demonstration, Monday Night Chef SmackDown is designed as a live culinary experience where chefs must rely on skill, creativity and instinct.

Each 45-minute matchup will challenge two chefs to interpret a mystery basket and create their strongest dish before presenting it to a panel of guest judges. Guests will watch every decision unfold, from the first ingredient selection to the final plate.

The competition lineup includes chefs from restaurants and hospitality groups across North Texas:


Sept. 21: Ben McCracken of Armor Brewing Company in Allen vs. Henry Johnson of Palladino’s in Dallas
Oct. 19: Tom Fleming of Crossroads Diner in Plano vs. Justin Samsill of Barcelona Wine Bar in Dallas
Nov. 16: Rodman Shields of Milkshake Concepts in Frisco vs. Nick Paladino of Meridian in Dallas
Dec. 21: Albert “Rocky” Lavalais IV of DNoir Cajun Cuisine in Van Alstyne vs. Israel Fearon of Hardwood Hospitality Group in Dallas
Jan. 18, 2027: Ryan Oruch of Seabreeze Fish Market & Grill/The Wilfred in Plano vs. Aaron Valimonte of Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar in Dallas

More Than A Cooking Show

The evening is designed to feel like a night out rather than a standard culinary event. Both VIP and general admission tickets include TRE Cooking Concepts bites, signature cocktails, interactive vendors, a photo booth and a BYOB-friendly atmosphere.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with competitions beginning at 7 p.m.

“I want viewers to walk away with a ‘can do’ feeling in the kitchen,” said chef Tre Wilcox.

That philosophy has shaped Wilcox’s career and his approach to cooking. The name TRE represents his culinary foundation: techniques, recipes and execution, three elements guests will see come together during each competition.

Bringing Restaurant Experience To The Stage

Wilcox is an award-winning chef, educator and television personality who has built a career around making professional cooking approachable.

A self-trained chef, Wilcox earned a five-star review as chef de cuisine at Abacus by age 29. He has been nominated twice for the James Beard Foundation’s Rising Star Chef award, appeared on Bravo’s Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars, and competed on Food Network’s Iron Chef America as part of Kent Rathbun’s winning team against Bobby Flay.

Established in 2016, TRE Cooking Concepts was created as a space where guests can experience the energy of a professional kitchen through cooking classes, team-building events, catering experiences and culinary showcases.

With Monday Night Chef SmackDown, Wilcox is bringing that same interactive approach to a competition format that gives North Texas diners a front-row seat to the creativity behind the cuisine.

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