Hi-Line chefs still stirring support

People line up for bread and bite-sized pronto pups at the fourth Annual Men Who Cook for Women Who "Wine" event in the Hingham Community Center in March 2010.

It's been five years since local men first cooked for the women who "wine, " but cancer still exists and families still need help dealing with medical problems, so the men are again preparing to raise their knives, ladels and spatulas for a good cause.

The fifth annual Men Who Cook for Women Who "Wine" event will be raising funds in the Hi-Line Community Center in Hingham on the evening of March 24, to provide "financial assistance to families in need, " like "travel and lodging expenses for qualifying families" from Phillips, Blaine and Hill counties, as well as northern Chouteau County.

During the event, attendees will sample the work of the chefs and vote for their favorites. While votes come in, people can participate in both silent and live auctions and a few games.

"The outcome of the evening is getting to come together with your friends, neighbors and family, visit, laugh and help raise some money for a great cause, " the event's press release says.

One ticket to the event gets a glass of wine or beer, access to the chef's work and three votes for the best chef.

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, Feb. 15, across Hill County. Single admission is $20. A couple costs $35. At the door on the night of the event, admission will cost $25 per person.

Cathie Haas, one of the organizers of the event, said the impact during the past few years has been impressive.

The event has raised "approximately $25,000 each year after all expenses, " Haas said in a letter. "That's over $125,000 in the 5 years of existence. Also, the fact that 250 plus people buy tickets and come to the little town of Hingham just to attend the event, that does not take into account all the volunteers on hand to help make it run as well as it does, or our 'chefs' who start thinking of what to cook for the next year before the (current) has been put away, and what they can do to beat the reigning champions.

"It's not a fancy event, just good old-fashioned camaraderie and lots of fun. "