Lifescape Community Services, Inc.[/caption]With apologies to Dr. Pepper, I'm a foodie, she's a foodie, he's a foodie...wouldn't you like to be a foodie, too?

For purposes of clarification, a foodie is someone with a great interest in gourmet food and drink, or new techniques and trends in cooking.

Yeah, there's that. Add to it the fact that I'm a veteran Food Network watcher, love to try new things in the culinary department, and think very highly of our friends at Lifescape Community Services, and you've got the recipe for a great evening that also happens to benefit a first-rate organization.

Hope you can find some time in your busy schedule to join us Thursday night at Tebala Shrine Temple, 7910 Newburg Rd, from 6-9. I'm lucky enough to be one of three judges tasked with determining which local chefs and restaurateurs are serving up Rockford's best appetizers, entrees, and desserts. It's a thankless job, but someone has to do it.

Thursday night, you'll sample offerings from:

• CLIFFBREAKERS
• LUCHA CANTINA
• BACKYARD GRILL & BAR
• VITO'S
• GREENFIRE
• BICKFORD HOUSE
• E-Z DINNERS
• AMICI ITALIAN GRILL
• SIMPLY DELICIOUS CUPCAKES
• CRIMSON POINTE
• KATE'S PIE SHOP & RECORD STORE
• THUNDER BAY GRILLE