Art is such a multi-faceted concept. Often times, many of its forms go forgotten. Painters, sculptors, writers—they are who immediately come to mind, but what of those other artists who are masters of their crafts, in fields that may have escaped the mass perception of “art”? They deserve recognition and praise as much as the next. On September 9th, the fourth annual Epicurean Evening offers a chance to show appreciation to two professions that involve their talents for collective enjoyment and the greater good: chefs and social workers.

Epicurean Evening proves a diversified event, offering a restaurant competition, charitable contributions, a black-tie affair, an auction and dinner party. Thirty local restaurants and their chefs will bring their most talented skills to a competition that includes categories like “Best Presentation,” “Best Entrée,” “Best Taste” and “Best in Show.” Top honors for the restaurant who scores highest across the board comes in the form of a Copper Kettle Award.

Yet, the competition isn’t only held to bring culinary pride to chefs and restaurateurs alike. In the end, it’s for a cause: to help the Methodist Home for Children, an organization that provides an array of community-based services to children and families in need. Their services include providing foster care, youth homes, substance abuse programs, childcare consultation, adoption, family-based counseling and more. “We’re just so fortunate that the restaurants and the community have gotten behind us to help the children that don’t have a voice to speak,” Missy Sumrell, chairwoman of the event, says. The restaurants of whom she speaks include: The Bento Box, Elijah’s, The Little Dipper, Ruth’s Chris’s Steak House, Hot Pink Cake Stand, Front Street Brewery, AM Coffee, Pine Valley Market, Duplin Winery and Taste of Italy. Given carte blanche to bring to the competition whatever they choose makes for an even more exciting chance for supporters to taste the best from Wilmington’s finest culinary hands.

“Sometimes, [they offer dishes] they don’t normally prepare,” Sumrell notes. “Last year, Chef Pat Green of Elijah’s did a pork and collard dish that was something completely different [from their normal menu].” A panel of celebrity judges include Chris Lubben of Chris’s Kosmic Kitchen, Mayor Bill Saffo, food writer Liz Biro of the Star-News and Gary McNair of WECT News. “We feast with our eyes and noses first,” Biro states, “but flavor is the most important thing. No matter how stunning or enticing, in the end, the taste buds are the final judges.”

The evening begins at six o’clock, downtown Wilmington in the Hilton Ballroom. An expected 300 guests will align the tables of 10, and mill around to taste the samples, while bidding on silent-auction items. Around 7 p.m. the festivities will kick off with special keynote speaker Jerry Wainwright, former UNCW basketball coach, as well as Wilmington’s mayor Bill Saffo. A live auction will feature items up for bid on a get-away to Cocoa Beach, FL, VIP passes for “One Tree Hill,” a mountain-house retreat, fishing charters, VIP seats in the Wilmington Shark’s dugout and more. Every dollar is donated to the Methodist Home for Children.

Throughout the evening, a program called “One K for One Kid” will be in effect, where for every $1,000 raised, the Methodist Home will be able to provide the basic, essential necessities for one child for an entire year. Last year, with over $60,000 raised, the Methodist Home was able to provide for over 60 new children.

Both the chef and social worker are sculptors, in a sense. The chef takes recipes and ingredients to create the best, most delectable dish possible. The social worker takes resources and clients to help provide a nurturing environment where possible. In the end, both can only work with what they are given—and the staff of Methodist Home for Children can always use more resources.

“For every child that we help, we have to turn 13 away because of funding,” Sumrell states, showing the importance of all donors. Tickets are still available to anyone wishing to help make a difference in a child’s life. Individual tickets are $100 and corporate tables of 10 can be purchased for $1,000, each available at http://wilmingtonee.com.

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