Chef Tre Wilcox, who became a local celebrity of sorts after his 2007 appearance on Top Chef, has a new venture called Tre Wilcox Cooking Concepts that is occupying an actual brick-and-mortar location at 8200 Preston Rd., right on the edge of Plano and Frisco.

The 3,200-square-food space combines a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen with the intimate touches of a home kitchen. It will serve as a hub for events, catering, team building competitions, and cooking classes where guests can work with Wilcox in a hands-on environment.

After a 20-year career as a restaurant chef, private chef, and TV personality, Wilcox is taking everything he’s learned and applying it to a new setting where he can offer his brand of fun, educational cooking classes:

Hands-on cooking classes. Classes of up to 16 people will participate in making three-course menus. Classes will be offered for adults and children; all ingredients, tools, and recipes will be provided. After the class, attendees are invited to bring a guest and some wine to enjoy their three-course dinner with full-service staff.

Couples cooking classes. Intimate class of no more than 16 people will enjoy a quick interactive cooking demonstration and tasting with Wilcox. Upbeat global music will set the mood, and guests will pair off to prepare three small plates recipes. The three-hour evening session will include cooking instructions by professional chefs, a meal of four small plates, and copies of each recipe.

TRE demonstration classes. "TRE" stands for "Techniques, Recipes, Execution." An intimate, interactive look at cooking with a lesson by Wilcox or a professional guest chef-instructor that might include Top Chef contestants, local celebrity chefs, or nationally known chefs. Four-course menu will include tastings while guests take notes and watch the chef work. BYOB.

Corporate team building. Groups of up to 40 will work together to prepare their own gourmet meal in one of three themes: Family Dinner, Iron Chef Battle, or Market Basket Challenge. The two menu styles offered are a chef-crafted buffet or three-course plated dinner.

The space will also be available for corporate parties and private events, Monday-Saturday, 6-10 pm. The building will be equipped with wireless internet, a plasma screen, and access to other AV needs.

"This is the culmination of two decades of hard work and a love for both cooking and teaching," Wilcox says in a release. "I'm excited to bring Tre Wilcox Cooking Concepts to fruition and to share this vision with the public in a fun and instructional hands-on setting."