Men Who Cook’ Fires Up Family Friendly Fundraiser
BY ERIN CRAVER & KARA YATES
Like many other non-profits, COVID-19 forced in-person special events to be put on the back burner the past two years. But with a new larger venue, and safety protocols put in place, a delicious competition is on the menu this fall for the SECU Family House!
The seventh annual Men Who Cook competition, presented by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, will showcase the talents of local male leaders who are amateur chefs. The Family House will host its popular fundraiser later this fall in the Forsyth Barn at Legacy Stables & Events located at 4151 Thomasville Rd in Winston-Salem. About 400 party goers will get to taste savory samples crafted by the chefs and then vote for their favorite ones through tips that are donated to Family House. Last year’s virtual event was a huge success, with proceeds netting more than $86,000.
“This is such a fun and exciting event, bringing families together over food, and truly represents the togetherness, hospitality and love we provide at the Family House,” said Kathy Carr, executive director of SECU Family House. The 45-room Family House is an alternative to a hospital waiting room or an expensive hotel for people coming to Winston-Salem for out-of-town medical care. The staff provides friendship, support, and affordable accommodations for adult patients and caregivers who have been referred by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, or Trellis Supportive Care.
“The kitchen is definitely the heart of most of our homes and meal preparation is such a large part of the services that Family House provides to its guests,” said Carr. “We couldn’t have found a better way to celebrate our mission of providing assistance to adult patients and caregivers who are going through difficult health crises.”
The Family House has hosted folks from 96 North Carolina counties and 45 states, and has served more than 42,000 overnight guests since opening in 2011. Guests stay for a nominal overnight fee of $40 per night, and if they are unable to pay, a Family House assistance fund is available to help, thanks to donations and events like Men Who Cook.
“Even though we are amateur chefs, we certainly enjoy cooking and are honored to share our love of food to raise money for Family House,” said Jose Rodriguez, amateur chef and SECU Family House Board Chair. “You truly cannot beat the intensity and fun we whip up at this event, and facing off against more than 20 chefs, we can certainly relate to the fiery cooking competitions we see on television.”
Men Who Cook chefs create their own recipes, from appetizers to desserts, and are allowed a sous chef for assistance during the evening. To entice the healthy competition, a judges’ prize and a people’s choice prize will be awarded to the winning chefs. Taste testers can expect some delectable dishes similar to tastings from past years, which included home cured bacon with mac and cheese, spicy paella, ceviche, gumbo, and more!
Some of our amateur chefs this year will include Dr. Kevin High, President of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Brent Campbell, WS/FCS Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Dr. Michael Lischke, Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, and Coach Pat Crowley, Financial Advisor for Wells Fargo Advisors and coach of R.J. Reynolds High School Football!
Do you know a man who can cook? We want him (and you) to be a part of our event! We are actively recruiting more male chefs to bring their tasty talents to the table. More information is available at familyhousews.org/men-who-cook/.
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Advance tickets may be purchased for $100 for one or $1,250 for a reserved table (admits 10). If you are interested in being a chef, providing a corporate sponsorship, or purchasing advance tickets, contact Erin Craver at the SECU Family House at 336-793-2822, or [email protected].