From the inbox: Culinary competition taking place at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse

I saw this in the inbox and it sounds like a fabulous event on so many levels -- a cut-throat cooking competition, an introduction to some future culinary stars, dinner in a cool setting at the Mag Mile restaurant and proceeds going to the Le Cordon Bleu Scholarship Fund. Check it out!

MICHAEL JORDAN'S STEAKHOUSE AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHICAGO MAGNIFICENT MILE AND LE CORDON BLEU CHICAGO PRESENT "CULINARY CLASH" COMPETITION

Students vie for top honors in one of the campus's largest student cooking competitions and scholarship programs CHICAGO - Michael Jordan's Steakhouse at the InterContinental® Chicago Magnificent Mile announces its partnership with Le Cordon Bleu Chicago for one of the school's largest cooking competitions and scholarship efforts to date. The Culinary Clash competition invites students from Le Cordon Bleu Chicago to compete for a chance to cook with Michael Jordan's Steakhouse's Executive Sous Chef Craig Couper and have their menu featured at the restaurant. Students submit menus and corresponding recipes through February 2014, and three finalists will cook at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse to showcase their menu on a designated night starting in March. Event judges include a panel of hotel executives, local personalities, and food writers, as well as guests of the restaurant that evening. All participating student finalists receive cash prizes for scholarships at their respective schools, and the winner of Michael Jordan's Steakhouse Culinary Clash competes in the InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts Ultimate Culinary Clash competition in San Francisco on May 15, 2014 with four other InterContinental Hotels' winners from North America. One property along with its executive chef and student chef will be named winner of the overall competition. The winning student will receive additional scholarship money with his or her culinary school also receiving a monetary donation from the InterContinental brand. "InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Culinary Clash competition provides student chefs a platform to cook in a professional hotel restaurant environment alongside our award-winning chefs," InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Director of Brand Management Debbie Grant says. "This project is two-fold: giving our properties the opportunity to support their local culinary community through continued education, as well as giving the chefs of tomorrow an opportunity to learn outside of the classroom." Submissions are judged on consistency with Michael Jordan's Steakhouse style, as well as the ability to execute the menu within a particular price point. Chef Couper narrows down and selects the top six students to participate in an on-campus culinary challenge, which will take place on Thursday, February 27, 2014. The top three winners of the on-campus challenge continue on to have their menu featured at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse. The fourth, fifth, and sixth place winners serve as sous chefs to the competing student chefs, helping execute the appetizer, entrée, and dessert dishes for restaurant guests. A portion of proceeds from each menu sold during the three dinners will go to the Le Cordon Bleu Scholarship Fund. The three-course dinners are offered at $50 per person on the following dates, with one student featured each night: Sunday, March 9, 2014; Sunday, March 16, 2014; and Sunday, March 23, 2014. Wine pairing, tax and gratuity are not included. For more information on Michael Jordan's Steakhouse at the InterContinental® Chicago Magnificent Mile and further details on the Culinary Clash, please visitwww.icchicagohotel.com. About Michael Jordan's Steak House Set in the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile at 505 N. Michigan Ave., Michael Jordan's Steak House presents a signature twist on steak house favorites at the helm of Executive Chef James O'Donnell. Michael Jordan's Steak House is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The bar is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, please call (312) 321-8823 or visit Michael Jordan's Steak House's website, Facebook and Twitter pages. About InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile Located at 505 N. Michigan Ave., InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is the only hotel with a front entrance on the prestigious Magnificent Mile - Chicago's most desirable address. Originally built in 1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club, an exclusive luxury men's club, the property is one of Chicago's most elegant landmarks. The hotel features 792 refurbished guest rooms, including 73 lavishly decorated suites. The hotel's historic, junior Olympic size pool is recognized as one of the best indoor pools in the U.S. and is included in Chicago's major architectural tours. Dining options in the hotel include Michael Jordan Steak House, an elegant, modern American steakhouse that reflects the basketball legend's preferred dining style,and ENO, an upscale yet approachable wine lounge that features cheese and chocolate pairings.