MARCH OF DIMES GOURMET GALA TO COOK UP FUN SATURDAY NIGHT

Food tasting, music, socializing and auctions will be the bill of fare during the March of Dime's Gourmet Gala Chef's Auction in Cape Girardeau Saturday night.

This is the fourth year for the event, during which local chefs, restaurants and caterers showcase their creations at the Osage Community Center in Cape Girardeau.

Susan Davis, division director of Southeast Division of the March of Dimes, said no one who attends the event will go away hungry or disappointed.

"It's going to be a great evening with music, food and fun. There's going to be a lot of excitement in the air," she said.

Restaurants that will be present this year include the Pilot House, Cafe Cape, Lacey's on the Hill and the Student Missouri Restaurant Association.

In addition to the food sampling, guests can bid on packages during live and silent auctions. Live auction packages include a Super Bowl party, champagne brunch, holiday tea party, Hawaiian luau, a mid-week happy hour or an evening in the French Quarters.

The more than 150 silent auction items and packages include home furnishings, health club memberships, shopping packages, toys, gift baskets, a month's supply of natural spring water or soft drinks, newspaper subscriptions, St. Louis travel packages and armoatherapy packages.

A reception and the silent auction start at 6:30 p.m., and cocktail attire is suggested. Guests can begin sampling the food, including meats, soups, salads and desserts, at 7:30 p.m. The live auction begins at 8:30 p.m.

Mike Seabaugh, chairman of the Southeast Division of the March of Dimes, said the Gourmet Gala is different from any other charity event in the area.

"I think it's just a great evening for the public to sample food from some of Cape's nicer restaurants," he said.

"This event is unique in the fact that we've got different restaurants presenting food for the people there to eat and the packages. This is the only event in town where that's available.

Davis said that not only will guests have a good time, they will feel good about helping out the March of Dimes.

"We want everybody to walk away from the evening feeling like they're making a difference," she said. "They really are heroes for the babies and the moms of Southeast Missouri, but on a national level as well."

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the Gourmet Gala Chef's Auction, call 651-6033.