A Contest! The Prize: Fun Playing With Cleveland Chefs to Benefit the March of Dimes

I have frequently joked to all in earshot that I don't have any children or pets - I find the husband quite sufficient. But though I have no children of my own, I am the sibling of a preemie. And the technology that has improved the odds and the comfort for both mothers and children in such situations exists in large part due to the immense efforts of the March of Dimes.

The most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today is premature birth. It affects more than half a million babies each year, with the number growing every day. In 2008 the March of Dimes issued a report card on Premature Birth, giving the nation a D and Ohio a D. Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities. The March of Dimes is committed to reducing this toll by funding research to find the answers to premature birth and providing comfort and information to families who are affected.

I am thrilled to have been invited to support this effort in connection with the upcoming March of Dimes 20th Annual Signature Chefs Auction, to be held on Monday November 22, 2010 at the Embassy Suites Cleveland Rockside, from 5:30 to 9:00pm. Participating restaurants include: AMP 150, Bistro 185, Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern, Budapest Blonde Cocktail Mixes, Corleone’s Ristorante, Dish Deli & Catering, Don’s Lighthouse, Great Lakes Brewing Company, House of Blues, Ken Stewart’s, La Dolce Vita, La Strada, Light Bistro, Lucky Penny Farm & Creamery, Marigold Catering, Melange, Muse at the Ritz Carlton, Orlando Baking, Pier W, Quince, Shinto Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, The Good Fork, Three Birds, Umami Asian Grill, and Willoughby Brewing Company. A selection of fine wines will also be offered, as well as live and silent auctions of culinary and other prizes. It promises to be an amazing evening.

The March of Dimes's press release provides additional details about this year's event:

Highlights for this year’s event include a tribute to the 2010 Honorary Medical Chair, Dr. Ricardo J. Rodriguez, Neonatology Chair at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. "March of Dimes has for many years supported and promoted groundbreaking research that has led to improvements in the care of newborns. It is a special organization that has allowed me to give back to children and the community both personally and professionally," said Ricardo Rodriguez, MD, chair of neonatology at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital.

Orlando Baking Company will be receiving the FDR Community Leadership award, not only for their efforts of helping the March of Dimes make sure that every baby is born healthy, but also for their strong community support. Brandt Evans, co-owner and Blue Canyon Kitchen and Tavern is also serving as the 2010 Honorary Chef.

A limited number of tickets to attend this event and support this important cause are still available at $150 per ticket, please contact Jen Lawson, 216-643-3330 to obtain your tickets.

Or here is another possibility. Because the March of Dimes has been kind enough to provide me with a pair of tickets to give away - leave a comment on this blog telling us which participant's dish you'd most like to try that evening (you can also say why, if you'd like to). Also, if your comment sign-in isn't going to leave me with a way to contact you if you win, please either post an edress or email me through this blog to let me know how to reach you if you win. I will select a winner using a random number generator on Monday, November 15 at noon and will post the identity of the winner on this blog and on this blog's Facebook Page later that day (I will also contact the winner by email).

Let's have fun playing with food from some of Cleveland's premier restaurants for a truly fabulous cause on November 22!