Mercantile DICED Challenge: Mystery Basket Cooking Competition

$145.00

Do You Have What It Takes to Become a Merc DICED Champion?

The Merc DICED Challenge is a high‑energy, cooking competition where contestants face off against a surprise Mystery Basket and transform it into their most impressive dish. Cooking individually at their own workstation, contestants compete under time pressure with chef mentorship, access to our fully stocked Patio Pantry, and the excitement of live judging.

This immersive 3‑hour experience blends creativity, technique, competition, and community. You don’t need to be a professional chef—just someone who loves to cook and is ready to rise to the challenge.

From Competition to Class

All Merc DICED contestant dishes are eligible to be considered as a future Babylon Mercantile cooking class.

Merc DICED also serves as a creative testing ground. If a dish stands out for flavor, originality, and guest appeal, it may be selected for development into an official Babylon Mercantile class—with credit given to the originating contestant.

Selection is not limited to the winning dish—every contestant’s plate has the opportunity to become a class.

Pricing

  • Contestant: $145 per cook
  • Guest: $50 per guest (non‑cooking)

Ready to Step Into the Kitchen?

Apply now for your chance to cook under pressure, showcase your creativity, and compete to become the next Merc DICED Champion — and maybe even see your dish live on as a Babylon Mercantile class.

Contestants check in, receive their aprons, and take their assignedindividual workstations. After a brief safety overview, you’ll meet your Merc Chef mentors and fellow competitors before the challenge begins.

Each contestant receives a Mystery Basket with 3–4 required ingredients that must be incorporated into their final dish.

Contestants shop the Patio Pantry for additional ingredients and bring their concept to life. Cooking time may vary slightly by event to allow flexibility for creativity.

Throughout the challenge, Merc Chefs remain in the kitchen, offering real‑time guidance, technique support, and encouragement—without cooking for you.

Contestants have full access to all Merc kitchen tools and appliances at their individual stations.

Surprise mini‑games may pop up during the event, allowing contestants to earn fun perks such as bonus ingredients or strategic advantages.

Each contestant will plate three portions of their final dish:

  1. Judges’ Plate – Presented for official chef scoring
  2. Personal Plate – For the contestant to enjoy and share with their guest, if attending
  3. Community Sampling Plate – Placed on a shared tasting table for guests and fellow contestants

This format encourages thoughtful execution, confident presentation, and a shared culinary experience that brings the entire room together.

Merc DICED is competitive, but also communal.

Non‑cooking guests may only attend when accompanying a registered contestant.
Guest tickets are available exclusively as add‑ons to a contestant’s registration. We are limiting it to 2 spectators per contestant based on capacity, allowing all contestants a team to cheer them on! If spots become available, we will open them up to additional spectators. You will be prompted to purchase spectator tickets after adding this to cart.

Guests enjoy:

• A Merc‑prepared chef meal
• Front‑row access to the competition
• Tasting their contestant’s dish
• Access to the community sampling table
• Live judging and the awards ceremony

Dishes are evaluated through dual scoring:

  • Merc Chef Panel Judging
  • Peer Voting by contestants and guests

Judging criteria include:

  • Best Use of Mystery Basket Ingredients
  • Taste
  • Presentation
  • Creativity

Final scores are combined to determine the Merc DICED Champion.

Champion Rewards Include:

  • Official Merc Champion Chef Coat
  • One complimentary spot in any Babylon Mercantile class or event
  • Advancement to compete against other Merc DICED champions
  • The opportunity to ultimately face off against our Merc Chefs

You will receive an email confirming your spot as a contestant. In this email, there will be an intake form to fill out so we can learn a bit more about you, your cooking style, and what you’d bring to the competition.

$145.00

We are experiencing a technical issue with booking, Please call our store at 631-818-1100 to complete or open the "Chat" below.

In consideration of being permitted by The Babylon Mercantile, LLC to participate in a cooking class, I hereby waive, release and discharge any and all claims for damages or personal injury, death, or property damage which I may have or which may hereafter accrue as a result of my participation in said activity. This release is intended to discharge, in advance, The Babylon Mercantile, LLC, its officers, directors, members and managers and all other members of its cooking school staff, whether contracted or employed, from and against any and all liability arising out of or connected to in any way with any participation in said activity. I agree and understand that my participation is voluntary and I assume risks associated with the activity in which I will be participating. lf alcoholic beverages are consumed during an event, I understand that this may increase my risk of injury and agree not to operate a motor vehicle if I may be over the legal limit.

I hereby grant The Babylon Mercantile, LLC all rights and consent to copyright, use, re-use, publish or re-publish, copy, exhibit or distribute all photographs and/or video of myself to be used for The Babylon Mercantile’s website, social media and any educational, training or promotional electronic or printed material without restriction as to frequency or duration of usage and without compensation. FOOD ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES: Please inform us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions at the time of booking. Due to the nature of some classes, we are unable to accommodate all dietary restrictions/preferences. Reactions due to food allergies and sensitivities are included as risks associated with culinary classes. If you have any questions regarding your food allergy/preference, please contact  contact@babylonmercantile.com (mailto:contact@babylonmercantile.com) or 631-818-1100 PRIOR to booking your class.

By purchasing this class, I acknowledge that I have carefully read this Hold Harmless Agreement, Waiver, and Release and fully understand its contents. I am aware that this is a release of liability and a contract between myself and The Babylon Mercantile, LLC and any staff member of cooking class whether contracted or employed.

We understand the importance of accommodating guests with food allergies and dietary restrictions. Here’s how we ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone:  

1. Notification in Advance: If you or someone in your group has a food allergy, please inform us at the time of booking or contact us as soon as possible. This allows our team to plan appropriately.  
2. Allergy Awareness: While we make every effort to accommodate dietary needs, please note that our kitchen and facility are not allergen-free environments. Ingredients such as nuts, dairy, gluten, shellfish, and other common allergens may be present.  

3. Ingredient Transparency: During the class, our chef will provide a detailed explanation of the ingredients used in each dish. If there are any concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask our team for clarification.  

4. Guest Responsibility: If you or a guest in your group has a severe allergy (e.g., life-threatening anaphylaxis), we strongly recommend bringing any necessary medications (e.g., EpiPen) and exercising caution when participating.  

5. Menu Flexibility: While we aim to provide alternative ingredients or substitutions when possible, please understand that certain menu items may not be modifiable based on the class theme and ingredients available.  Your safety and comfort are our top priority. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns ahead of your class

Cancellation Policy

We understand that plans can change, and this policy outlines what happens when a cancellation occurs.

  • Standard Classes: Cancellations made at least 48 hours in advance will receive credit for a future class in the form of a Cooking Class e-Gift Card or a Discount Code .Within 48 hours of the scheduled class start time, we cannot offer refunds or in-store credits. However, you are welcome to send a friend in your place if you're unable to attend.
  • BootCamp or Special Events: Cancellations made 1 week before the event will receive a full credit toward future classes. Cancellations made 48 hours to 1 week prior will receive a 50% credit. Within 48 hours of the event, no credit will be provided.
  • Late Arrival Policy: To ensure proper cooking and a smooth class experience, classes will begin promptly at the scheduled time. We allow a 10-minute grace period for late arrivals. After 10 minutes, late arrivals will be considered a no-show and will forfeit their spot and any associated credits or payments.
  • Rescheduling: Please call us at 631-818-1100 to reschedule. We do not accept cancellations or rescheduling requests via email or voicemail.
  • COVID and Illness Policy: We encourage clients to consider the potential need to quarantine or isolate before booking. We maintain a strict No Refund Policy, including cancellations due to COVID or other illnesses. Cancellations within 48 hours result in the forfeiture of credit. In such cases, contact us immediately to join our standby list. We will do our best to accommodate you in a comparable class of our choice.
  • Weather or Unforeseen Circumstances: If we cancel a class due to inclement weather or other uncontrollable events (e.g., power outages), we will notify you via email or phone and issue a full refund to your original payment method or, if preferred, as a Babylon Mercantile gift card. If you are unable to attend a class that we have not officially canceled, the standard cancellation policy applies.

Cook Like a Chef, Dine Like Family

From the moment you walk in, we’ll welcome you with a complimentary glass of wine or a non-alcoholic drink. Additional wine is available for purchase on-site. You’ll start the night off with an appetizer and some casual mingling to get to know the others in your class.

Then it’s time to cook. Our stations are fully prepped with everything you need, and you’ll work in groups of 2–4 (don’t worry, we’ll pair you up if needed). Prefer to cook solo? Just let us know ahead of time and we’ll make it happen.

Once aprons are on, you’ll spend about 90 minutes cooking alongside our chef and kitchen team, learning, laughing, and maybe making a little mess. The final meal is a mix of your own creations and chef-prepared dishes, depending on what’s fresh, seasonal, and working best that day.

When it’s time to eat, we’ll serve you at our beautiful communal table on our enclosed patio, where you’ll enjoy a restaurant-style experience with all the charm of a dinner party.

The Details:

At The Babylon Mercantile, each class offers a hands-on experience where participants can refine their culinary skills while enjoying a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're an aspiring chef, a parent-child duo, or a young cook in the making, there's a class tailored to your needs.

Adult Classes: Approximately 3 hours, providing plenty of time to master techniques and recipes.

Adult & Kids Classes: These collaborative sessions run for about 1.5 to 2 hours, creating a fun bonding experience.

Kids Classes: These lively and creative classes last approximately 1.5 hours.

Kids Camp: For extended culinary exploration, these sessions run between 2.5 to 3 hours.  

Beverage Policy:
Wine is available for purchase on-site or guests are welcome to bring their own wine or beer to enjoy during the class.  

Arrival & Late Policy:
Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of the class to ensure a smooth and timely experience. We kindly ask you to arrive on time. Our doors close at the start of the class, and we are unable to accommodate late arrivals. Latecomers will be considered a no-show.