Inspired by the Bravo show “Top Chef,” Austin’s Hormel Historic Home will be hosting it’s own, laid-back version of the show.

“Foodie Throwdown: Cuisines of the World,” will be held Saturday, March 10 at the Hormel Historic Home and will feature local chefs, cooks and food enthusiasts taking their shot at the worldly cuisine.

Five teams will tackle a different country or region which will be presented to the public later Saturday evening who will vote on their favorite dishes.

“It seemed like a natural fit with Austin being a really good food town and us having the kitchen and banquet facilities,” said HHH executive director Laura Helle.

“Word has gotten out and we’ve gotten a good response.”

Two hundred tickets were made available to the public at $30 a piece and as of Tuesday more than 100 of those tickets have been sold.

“I don’t think they are going to last until the final day,” Helle said.

The idea for the event began about six months ago when the HHH board started brainstorming for new events they could host, settling on the idea of a food or cooking function.

“Competition shows are really hot,” Helle said. “There is really a lot of them so we took the idea and ran with it.”

Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the viewing window in the banquet area to open at 6:30 p.m. for the last half-hour. At 7 p.m. people will get the chance to taste the dishes and at 8:30 p.m. voting will be held.

The board turned to Howie Crawford, a local chef in Austin who has lived in the community for 29 years, and he helped build on the competition aspect. Citing, “Top Chef,” Crawford said they wanted to do something similar, but not make it as competitive.

“We decided to change it up so it’s not so pressured packed,” Crawford said. “We wanted to make it a little more fun so we came up with the Foodie Throwdown.

“We recruited a bunch of excellent cooks and chefs in the community who have a real passion for food and cooking.”

One of those chefs was Hy-Vee Chef Kristine Merten who will team with Hy-Vee pastry chef Barbara Dudley to present an Italian dish during the contest.

“It’s unusual,” Merten said. “It’s just something fun.”

The duo’s dish, Merten said, will not be over the top, but it may surprise people as well.

“It’s a very homestyle, peasant dish,” Merten said. “It has nothing to do with pasta. Most people are going to expect pasta, but I’m doing a southern Italy dish.

“We’re kind of showcasing two dishes,” she continued. “I’ll be showcasing the main dish and Barbara will be showcasing on the dessert. This way, people can know what she can do also.”

If you want to know anything else, however, you’ll have to buy a ticket. Everything the chefs and cooks are making is top secret. Not even they know what others are cooking, which is part of the fun.

“I have no idea what the other groups are going to make,” Crawford said, who will be presenting a food from the Mediterranean and Europe. “I’ll be offering a couple dishes you’ll be hard pressed to find in southern Minnesota.”

People won’t know what they will be trying until the night of the event.

Crawford said that those who attend the event should be ready for a great night of food.

“It will be a good time and they’ll hopefully have an appreciation for the talen the Austin community has,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to a lot of fun.”

Foodie Throwdown

When: Saturday, March 10. Doors open at 6 p.m., food is served from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Hormel Historic Home

Tickets: $30, contact the Hormel Historic Home at 507-433-4243 for tickets and information.

Meet the chefs

•South of the Boarder: Jane Arhart and Kathy Frtiz

•The Mediterranean and Europe:  Chef Howie Crawford

•Asian Fusion: Dr. Gareth Hataye

•Taste of Italy: Chef Kristine Merten and Pastry Chef Barbara Dudley

•Moroccan Delight: Diane Sherman and Ilene Carroll