Amateur cooks to fire up favorite recipes for judging at Third Annual ‘Men Who Cook’ in Mokena

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March 3

JOLIET – Some 50 local guys who know how to cook more than a microwave pizza will place their favorite home recipes up for public judging at the Third Annual “Men Who Cook” competition from 6-9 p.m. March 26 at the Pipefitters Training Center Local 597 in Mokena.


The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center, which is hosting the popular culinary competition, encourages everyone to save the date and arrive hungry. All proceeds from “Men Who Cook” will benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center, a not-for-profit agency that has dramatically improved the way allegations of child abuse are investigated in Will County.

Tom Grotovsky of Mokena was a hit with his Cajun Andouille Sausage with Chicken and Peppers in the 2010 competition.

Tom Grotovsky of Mokena was a hit with his Cajun Andouille Sausage with Chicken and Peppers in the 2010 competition.“Men Who Cook” is a fun and exciting way to support the Children’s Advocacy Center and cheer on a chef from your own community. During the competition, amateur cooks offer for public judging samples of home-cooked dishes they serve their own families. Guests can taste and vote for their favorite dish in each of four categories: appetizer; side dish; entrée; and dessert. WJOL’s Lynne, Mary and Natalie 
will greet guests on the Red Carpet and serve as hostesses. 


The cost to sample the fine cuisine at “Men Who Cook” is an affordable $35 per person; $60 per couple. This is a casual event.


“Our first ‘Men Who Cook’ competition was so much fun and so wildly successful that we’ve been looking for larger venues ever since to accommodate the growing number of guests and cooks,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow, who founded the Children’s Advocacy Center and chairs its Board of Directors. “The Pipefitters have generously donated their vast Training Center in Mokena to accommodate the crowds we expect this year.” 


State’s Attorney Glasgow established the Children’s Advocacy Center in 1995 to improve investigations in child sexual abuse cases. The center’s trained staff performs child-sensitive interviews when there are allegations of sexual or severe physical abuse. Children’s recorded statements have been used in the successful prosecution of hundreds of predators. The center’s staff has interviewed 2,249 children over the past six years. 


The State’s Attorney founded the center as a 501-c-3 non-profit organization so it would not impact taxpayers. As a result, the center relies on grants, foundations and fundraisers like “Men Who Cook” to operate.


“The Children’s Advocacy Center deals with the serious problem of child abuse,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “‘Men Who Cook’ allows everyone to have a great time while they support the center’s critical work on behalf of our children. The crowds are large. The competition is fun and fierce. And the food is great. I guarantee an evening you won’t forget.”


To order tickets, or to sponsor “Men Who Cook,” call the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center at (815) 774-4564. Tickets also are available at the door. Or you can visit the center on the Web at www.willcountychildrensadvocacy.org, www.menwhocook.info or on Facebook at facebook.com/menwhocook. 

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

This year’s “Men Who Cook” sponsors include: Exchange Club of Joliet, Will County Sheriff’s Deputies Union, Rasmussen College; Northern Illinois Steel Supply Company, Will County Take Back the Night, Joliet Fraternal Order of Police, Wal-Mart on Route 59 in Shorewood, Affirmative Insurance Holdings (Insure One, Crest Hill), Ozinga Brothers, A.J.  Dralle, Inc. Exxon-Mobil Joliet Refinery, Caterpillar Foundation, Kohl’s-Plainfield, Terry D’Arcy-D’Arcy Motors, Joliet Kiwanis Charities, Shark Shredding & Storage Services and Citgo Refinery.

In-kind sponsors include: Pipefitters Local #597 Training Center-Mokena, 1340-WJOL Radio, the Herald News, Voyager Media Group, Signs By Tomorrow and Your SW Guide.com.

Prize donors include: Joliet Police Department, Prairie Bluff Golf Club, Bob Campbell Photography, Outback Steakhouse-Joliet, Fred Astaire Dance Studio-Mokena, Babe’s Hotdogs-Tim Reilly, Sur La Table-Naperville, Peggy Field, McBrody’s, Cardinal Fitness-Mokena, Innerpeace Natural Healthcare and Paul E’s Place-Mokena.