Do you enjoy those TV cooking shows where big-name chefs compete to create culinary masterpieces in a matter of minutes? Then you’re gonna love the Feeding Tampa Bay Epic Chef Showdown, which begins tonight at the Epicurean Hotel and has the added appeal of supporting an important cause: fighting hunger.

The Showdown, now in its fifth year, is a team effort by the Epicurean and Feeding Tampa Bay, the area’s largest food rescue and distribution organization. Chefs from eight of the region’s best restaurants  — Ichicoro Imoto, The Mill, Mise en Place, Noble Crust, Oxford Exchange, Parkshore Grill, Red Mesa and Rooster & the Till — are taking part. Beginning tonight, two competing chefs will receive a mystery box of ingredients not commonly prepared together, and will be challenged to create two unique dishes under the pressure of the clock. When time is up, each dish will be judged and one restaurant will be eliminated, with the winner moving on to the next round. Other competition dates are July 22, 29 and August 5, August 12 and 19 (semi-finals) and August 26 (finale).

Epic Chef Showdown events will take place inside the Epicurean Hotel’s Epicurean Theatre from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. A limited number of tickets to the public are available for $250 for a pair of two (finale is $350 for two), which includes a coursed meal with wine pairings. Those without tickets can watch from the lobby area, where the event will be shown on big screen TVs. In addition, Epic Chef Showdown will be streamed live through The Identity Tampa Bay’s channel and mobile app www.theidentitytb.com and in Epicurean Hotel guest rooms. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit epiccheftampabay.com.