Friendly rivalry will spark as the Exchange Club of Valdosta presents Cook And Care, a live, on-site culinary and mixology competition to benefit the Children's Advocacy Center of Lowndes County, Inc. The event begins at 6:30 pm, Monday, November 16, 2015 at Quail Branch Lodge in Lake Park, Ga. Featured chefs and mixologists include Keira Moritz of Steel Magnolias, Jeff Lind, Heather Gomez, Kim Souther, Brandon Hayes, Dan Deaver, Robin Wetherington and judges Paul McLane, Tom Fazekas, and more. One of the featured culinary judges include a return from the 2013 event, Malika Bowling, author of the Food Lovers' Guide to Atlanta, creator of Atlanta Restaurant Blog, and founder of The Association of Food Bloggers. Bowling has also been featured on HGTV, USA Today, and the Huffington Post. Also, added is a new judge for this year’s event, Lara Lyn Carter, author, chef, and creator of her own line, Wicker and Whisk. In 2014, Lara Lyn published her first cookbook Southern Thymes Shared and has been featured on WALB, the NBC and ABC affiliate for southwest Georgia, honored with an award from the National Association of Broadcasters.

Cook And Care is an event designed to showcase individual skills, techniques and styles of participants as they review their box of mystery ingredients and present a 3-course meal and mixologists presenting two cocktails to a panel of judges. The event brings together supporters of the non-profit agency and highlights the community’s commitment to assisting the sexually and physically abused children of our area. In addition to the “Iron-Chef” type show, ticket holders will have an option to bid on the entrées while enjoying a specially-designed menu provided by Jessie’s Eat & Treats, live music, and participate in auctions consisting of a painting donated by, City Market gift certificate, Elli’s Boutique gift certificate, gifts from The Landmark, Belle Coton, Stogies, Olio O Vito, Art & Soul, Kaleidoscope Gallery & Emporium

 Sponsorship opportunities and tickets for $40 per person or $75 per couple are available for businesses and individuals who are interested in supporting the CAC's mission to stop child abuse and minimize the trauma of child victims in Lowndes and surrounding counties (Lanier, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, and Echols). In 2014, the CAC provided services to more than 592 abused children including 1,584 therapy sessions. Current sponsors for the event include The Exchange Club of Valdosta, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Thacker Dermatology and Choices for Life, North Valdosta Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Jerry and Dedra Hughes and Azalea City Entertainment. For more information contact Brittny Hammock at 229.251.1999.