The Food Network will be in San Diego today to cast a dynamic team of two experienced chefs to appear in the prime time show Chefs vs. City!, starring chefs Aarón Sánchez and Chris Cosentino. But while they’re here, the show’s producers also hope to define something else.

Aaron Sanchez and Chris Cosentino.

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“San Diego is an interesting city,” says Chefs vs. City! casting director Doron Ofir. “But it doesn’t really have a food character.”

Mention Rice-A-Roni to an older generation, and they think San Francisco. Baltimore has its crab cakes, baked beans are synonymous with Boston, and New England is known for clam chowder. But San Diego--what foods are we really known for? Fish tacos? Sushi? Nouveau comfort foods?

“When we come down to San Diego, we’re going to try and figure out how to identify either the actual food that represents your city,” says Ofir, “or a local restaurant landmark.”

Chefs vs. City! is a race to the finish in which two teams (Food Network’s Sanchez and Cosentino, and two chefs from the featured city) race from location to location to complete food-related tasks.

Ofir says the producers are looking for big personalities.

“The chefs have to know their city and take pride in their city," he says. "The auditions will all be personality based. And, they have to be professional chefs with skills that are certified.”

The chefs also have to be athletic. “They have to be able to run and jump," says Ofir. "It’s a little bit of an Amazing Race kind of situation. They will battle it out with our two Food Network chefs.”

Ofir says he wants to cast one team composed of two of the following: a chef and a sous chef, a chef and a pastry chef, and rival chefs or chef friends.

“They can’t be private chefs," says Ofir. "They have to be chefs that represent a free-standing restaurant in San Diego. Two chefs from two different restaurants, or friendly rivals--that could be interesting.”

If you meet the qualifications and are between the ages of 25 and 40, have an outgoing personality and are somewhat athletic, e-mail your contact information to Lisa Turner: lisacasting@gmail.com. Auditions will be held February 8 – 11.

“Both chefs that will be chosen to represent San Diego for that episode are stars of that city," says Ofir. "It’s Chefs vs. City--if they lose, they lose for the city. It’s the closest thing there is to a food sport.”