The Cocalico Education Foundation will host the Sixth Annual Iron Chef Cocalico culinary event on March 4 at the Cocalico High School from 1 to 5 p.m. This unique event incorporates food, music and award-winning artwork to raise funds for educational opportunities for students and adults in the Cocalico School District. The Education Foundation funds classroom grant projects, early childhood education, technology initiatives and scholarships for graduating seniors.

Chef Scott Snyder from the Ephrata Community Hospital, Chef Michael Durant from The Station at Reinholds and Chefs Chad Rothfus and David Haines from the D&S Fireside Tavern at Historic Strasburg Inn will compete in a lively culinary competition for the title of Iron Chef. Chef Tom Gillin, host of Blue Ridge Cable-11′s Cooking for Class, and Chef Bill Scepansky of Smart Partner will bring a wealth of knowledge to this culinary extravaganza as the emcees of the competition. Corporate event sponsors and local food purveyors will supply many of the fresh ingredients, some of which will be a mystery to the chefs until the start of the competition.

In addition to the Iron Chef culinary challenge, guests will have the opportunity to sample and judge the People’s Choice Competition Chili Cookoff. Dave Shefter of Penn Werner Hotel in Wernersville; Irene Pascal of Spring Glenn Foods; Carolyn Kurtz of Fox Chase Golf Club in Denver; and Dave Kowalchick of Dave’s Diner in Adamstown will enter their culinary specialties in the competition. The winner of the People’s Choice competition will automatically be entered in next year’s Iron Chef challenge.

As always, a highlight of the event is the food tasting fair. Over 25 area restaurants and food purveyors will provide samples of their house specialties.

Many students at Cocalico High School are producing award-winning artwork, particularly in the handmade jewelry and ceramics programs. A limited number of these beautiful pieces will be donated to the Education Foundation for the Live Benefit Auction. Fine art and many other local artists’ work will be up for bid. Auctioneers Brad Wolf and Art Pannebecker will auction off other valuable items including pottery, theater and restaurant gift cards and much more. If anyone has always dreamed of being a culinary judge, now is their chance. An open judge’s seat for the Iron Chef challenge will be up for bid during the event auction.

WIOV’s own Jerry "Murf" Murphy will co-host alongside Cable-11′s John Witwer to emcee the Iron Chef event. Admission to the event costs $15 per adult and $7.50 per student, grades kindergarten through 12. Tickets may be purchased at the Cocalico School District’s central office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Tickets are also available at Weaver Markets in Adamstown and Blue Ridge Communications or by contacting the Cocalico Education Foundation at 336-1413 or cocalico.org. Detailed event brochures can be found in area businesses.