CONTRIBUTED PHOTO A large crowd gathered last weekend for the IVCCD Orpheum Theater’s “18 Men Who Cook” event.

There was Moroccan chicken with chickpeas, cherry banana smoothies, Italian sausage with fried potatoes and lasagna. Don’t forget the jalepeño poppers, spicy Korean meatballs, the roasted vegetable soup, pulled pork slaw sliders and almond cheesecake bars. Oh, and how could I forget the mac and cheese, vegetarian chili, cold green bean salad, pitchfork pork or the BBQ chicken drummies.

All of these gastronomical delights were on the menu last weekend during the Second annual “18 Men Who Cook” fundraising event — a community gathering to raise awareness and funds for the Orpheum in downtown Marshalltown.

Nearly 200 people packed the Orpheum’s Black Box Theater to sample these homemade goodies, as well as imbibe wine and beer, listen to incredible live music and bid on a variety of auction items.

And while the food was outstanding (Steve Hoffman’s meatloaf was nothing short of masterful), the event was never really about the culinary skills of the 18 men who volunteered their time and talents. Instead, it was a way for the community to rally support for the Orpheum — a true fine arts gem here in Marshalltown.

The fundraiser is the brainchild of Orpheum Theater Center Director Bob Untiedt and Friends of the Orpheum Board Chairwoman Fauna Nord, who along with several others, has essentially turned a potluck dinner into a culinary celebration two years in a row.

The money raised last weekend (roughly $12,000) will help the Orpheum cover equipment costs and live music expenses for upcoming performances the theater plans to showcase this year and beyond.

You see, while it was a great deal of fun for foodies to partake of delicious recipes, what’s even more impressive are that the participants and those who attended the fundraiser have a real hunger for quality entertainment. And to Bob’s credit, as well as the Iowa Valley Community College District, the Friends board and others, the Orpheum is truly an entertainment must-see.

There have been several community events and live musical performances this year that have delighted audience members. And the Orpheum promises even more opportunities for the community to see films, documentaries, more live music with the “Live After Five” series this summer and public events that enlighten and inform.

Food, like the dishes that were served last weekend, feed our bodies and tantalizes the taste buds.

But the fine arts, community events and those offerings provided by the Orpheum, feed our minds and our souls. The arts are the touchstone to our collective humanity. Not to have those experiences, like those presented at the Orpheum and other venues in Marshalltown, would be like serving a bland piece of toast for dinner.

I’m not sure If I will be able to volunteer again in 2019 for the next culinary extravaganza — the pressure is great to top 2017’s lasagna or this year’s Southern Delight desserts.

Regardless of what I might serve up, or other sure-to-be delicious fare that will be featured, let’s hope the community can again come together to provide a little sustenance for this jewel in downtown Marshalltown and support fine arts in the community.

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Contact Jeff Hutton at 641-753-6611 or jhutton@timesrepublican.com