A trick, then a treat

The evening of Nov. 1, I'll be Tweeting live from the March of Dimes annual Signature Chef's Auction at Carmel Country Club. It features from some of Charlotte's best chefs plus silent and live auctions to help the nonprofit's mission to improve the health of babies.

Silent auction items include merchandise from Tory Burch and Lilly Pulitzer, a $500 gift certificate to Morrison Smith jewelers and multiple wine packages. Among the live auction items are a week at Kiawah Island in a four-bedroom house on the exclusive Vanderhorst Plantation and a weekend stay at the Inn at Half Mile Farm in Highlands, which also includes golf at the prestigious Highlands Country Club.

The list of participating chefs will make your mouth water:

Chef Jean Pierre Marechal – The Marriott/Savannah Red.

Chef Kimberly Stoll – Aspire Bistro.

Chef Paul Ketterhagen – Carpe Diem.

Chef Cornelius Hodge – Dessert Fetish.

Chef Time Groody – Mama Ricotta/FS Food Group. 

Chef Michael Vergili – Carmel Country Club (his photo is above). 

Chef Jon France – Ritz Carlton.

Chef Geoffrey Bount – CPCC.

Chef Tom Condron – The Liberty.

Chef Bernard Brunet – Global Restaurant.

Chef Colin Johnson – The Palm.

Chef Bruce Moffett – Barrington Restaurant.

Chef Paul T. Verica – The Club at Longview.

Phillip Lloyd & Maria Marequez – The Art Institute of Charlotte.

Chef Tessia Harman – Custom Culinary Creations.

Jim Alexander – Zebra Restaurant

Executive Chef Scott Hollingsworth – Dressler’s.

Executive Chef Thomas Dyrness – UPSTREAM, Harper’s Restaurant Group. 

The trick is, the event is completely sold out, but before you throw a pumpkin at me, here's the treat:

You can also support the March of Dimes at another upcoming event honoring one of my favorite Charlotteans. The "Celebrating Contributions to Charlotte Honoree Breakfast" is 7:30-9 a.m. Nov. 29 at the Mint Museum uptown. This year, it's chaired by Wray Ward CEO Jennifer Appleby and will honor Linda Lockman-Brooks for her many contributions to Charlotte's business and cultural communities (her photo is above). She will be the first female to receive the honor. Details: www.marchofdimes.com; www.facebook.com/marchofdimes.