MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
A full house is expected this weekend as Salt Hawk Community Support hosts its signature fundraising event, “Men Can Cook”, returning Saturday night at the Hutchinson Art Center.
Now in its fifth year, the popular tasting competition brings together a wide cross-section of local men — not professional chefs — who prepare their favorite dishes for an evening of food, friendly rivalry, and community support. Attendees sample each entry, cast ballots for their favorites, and help crown the night’s champions.
“This is one of those events that just keeps growing,” said Claire Foy, one of the event organizers. “It’s competitive, it’s fun, and it’s completely different from anything else in the community.”
The concept was introduced by Sally Russell who is a past president of Salthawk Community Support. Foy said “An organization in Wichita does it, but on a much larger scale.”
After a pandemic pause, the fundraiser returned stronger than ever, drawing roughly 150 people when cooks and guests are combined. Despite serving only tasting portions, organizers say guests are often full before dessert.
Chris Corey, a board member and one of the event’s participating “hype men,” said the variety of food is part of the appeal. “There’s everything from barbecue to Thai food, chicken and waffles, Mexican dishes — really a wide range,” said Corey.
This year’s lineup includes about 18 cooks representing a broad mix of professions and backgrounds, including educators, retirees, business owners, a physician, a commercial pilot, clergy family members — and even Hutchinson Mayor Scott Meggers. While there are no professional chefs competing, organizers note that creativity and presentation are just as important as flavor, with awards for both food and décor.
The winning cooks receive a custom metal Salt Hawk medal crafted by students in the Hutchinson High School Technical Education Department.
In addition to food, guests can enjoy beverages from Salt City Brewing, a longtime supporter of the event.
Proceeds from "The Men Cook" directly support Salt Hawk Community Support, which provides services and programming for students at Hutchinson Middle School 8 and Hutchinson High School.
“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Kylie Campbell, site administrator for Salthawk Community Support at HMS 8. “The support we get from this event helps fund programs for our students and raises awareness about the services we offer. It’s also my favorite event — seeing the community come together is incredible.”
The event runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan 31. at the Hutchinson Art Center. Tickets are $45 per person and are available in advance at the Art Center, Apron Strings, Trinity United Methodist Church, through board members, or at the door the night of the event.
Organizers are already looking ahead to next year and encouraging additional participants to get involved.
“The cooks cover the cost of their own food, which makes this a huge benefit for our organization,” Foy said. “We’re incredibly grateful, and we’re always looking to add more men to the lineup.”
For those interested in attending or cooking in future years, organizers say The Men Cook is more than a food contest — it’s one of Hutchinson’s premier community events.