By Erica Buehler
Travis Benden and Reese Rosser shared a smile while serving some ribs.
What was once a small, more intimate gathering of 50 cooks has turned into a successful fundraiser with more than 2,000 people in attendance. The 12th annual 50 Men Who Can Cook will take place on Feb. 1 at the Brazos County Expo Complex from 6:30 to 9:30pm and feature 68 booths with representatives from local schools and the community.
Tickets to this adult-focused event are $60, which includes food, beverages, and all the entertainment you can handle! Each booth will prepare 800 2-ounce samples, and guests can try samples at the different booths throughout the night. The chefs pick their star recipe because the food competes in the appropriate category. There are five different categories. The food categories are voted on by attendees: appetizers, salads and sides; entrees; desserts; and soups and chili. The best decorated booth is voted on by 50 Men Committee Co-Chairs Jody Ford and Jeff Horak. Many booths get in the spirit of things by having a theme and costumes. In the past, cooks have dressed up as KISS, The Blues Brothers, Duck Dynasty, and more.
This fundraiser is a classic for the College Station ISD Education Foundation, and many people say this is their favorite community event of the year, according to Teresa Benden, CSISD Education Foundation executive director. “We enjoy coming out together, and our celebrity chefs really go all out and do a really great job on bringing some really awesome food to this event.”
The whole focus of the event is to raise money to support the local CSISD schools, according to Benden. “This event is a really great community builder,” she says.
Ron Fox and Paul Dorsett burned some calories working out and handed out “Vanilla Brotein Meal Replacement” shakes.
When you combine male chefs, delicious recipes, creative costumes, and community together, what more can you expect than a wonderful community bonding fundraiser? “This is a great way to come out and support our schools and have fun,” says Benden. “It’s a very casual, [yet] great evening.” Rick Hill, county district judge and former CSISD principal and teacher, will be the DJ for the evening, as he has been since its inception.
For the second year in a row, CHI St. Joseph’s Health is the top chef sponsor. Benden says their support is very important to the CSISD Education Foundation. The 2018 event raised $220,000. The money provides essential support to student scholarships, innovative teacher grants, the Amy Anderson Literacy Legacy Program, and Chrissy’s Closet in the district.
David Gardener’s Jewelers donated a $10,000 shopping spree for this year’s raffle prize. There will be 200 raffle tickets sold for $100 each. In addition to the raffle, there will be a silent auction.
“This event is really wonderful,” says Benden. “We have men who get up here at 8 a.m. to start [preparing] their recipes. They really go all out for this event.”
Tickets won’t be sold at the door. To purchase tickets, contact any board member or celebrity chef or buy online at www.Givetokids.csisd.org. For more information, contact the CSISD Education Foundation office at (979) 694-5615.
