If you have attended too many rubber-chicken fundraisers in your life — or even if you haven’t — you’ll welcome the unique experience of Eat Your Heart Out, an annual gathering that supports West Mt. Airy Neighbors. 

This great community event, where participants enjoy delectable (and definitely not rubbery) dining at a home in the neighborhood, takes place this year on Saturday, April 14.

As usual, Eat Your Heart Out will begin with a grand cocktail party. This is the time to meet and greet and enjoy some great hors d’ouevres and libations. Then most registrants will fan out to one of 12 intimate dinner parties, each featuring a different theme and menu. (If you have other plans for later in the evening, you can still support WMAN by coming to the cocktail party only.)

For the last few years, several chefs from Mt. Airy’s finest restaurants, as well as some superb local caterers, have participated in EYHO. This year, local restaurant Mica will loan us its chef and owner, Yianni Arhontoulis. Those who mourn the closing of Geechee Girl will be pleased to see chef Valerie Erwin. Among the other professionals donating their time and expertise are local caterers Kimberly Fonville (KF Culinary Designs), CT Caster (Thyme Bandit Chef), Tony Lawrence (Global Wine Chef), Carl Drake (Night Kitchen Catering) and Gail Hinson (Awbury Arboretum). We also have some very talented neighborhood and personal chefs preparing dinners for us, including Val Jamison, Emma Ford and Laurie Harbeson. Talented culinary school student Saadiq Simpson rounds out the list. 

On the host side, we have many returning participants, who have opened up their homes and their pocketbooks many times before in support of this wonderful event. However, several households have agreed to host a dinner this year for the first time. New chefs and new hosts help EYHO to retain its character as a community dinner first and foremost, at which people have a great time socializing with their neighbors. Just ask some of the many people who have attended in the 12 years we’ve been doing it. 

To buy tickets, visit the WMAN website at www.wman.net. It will surely whet your appetite to browse the categories of dinners available. (If you have dietary preferences or allergies, our amazing chefs should be able to accommodate you.) 

Where else but in Mount Airy could you start out the evening with a group of strangers sharing an amazing, never-to-be-repeated meal and by the end of the evening, have formed amicable relationships with those people! So get ready for an evening on April 14 of great conversation and conviviality! 

For more information, email wman19119@gmail.com or call 267-713-WMAN.