It’s time to get that little black dress out of the closet and get ready for a night on the town! (Guys, you can forgo the dress and stick with a nice suit or tux.) One of Fayetteville’s premiere events is coming up, and with a limited number of tickets available for purchase, if you wait until the last minute to get yours, well, let’s just say, you might be waiting for next year’s event.

If the question marks are still circling your cranium, then you’ve not figured it out. Give up? The Cape Fear Division of the March of Dimes is hosting its annual Signature Chefs Auction.

The auction is truly one of the area’s most exciting annual fundraisers and not just because it’s an excuse to get dressed up. Think about it. Some of the city’s most talented chefs are brought together under one roof for just a few hours. If you’re one of the lucky ones who snags a ticket in time, you will get to enjoy some of the most delectable dishes the area has to offer.

When asked to describe the event, Catherine Heindselman, division director for the Cape Fear March of Dimes, said, “It features the skills and creativity of some of the finest local chefs and hottest restaurants … guests sample tastings of the signature dishes.”

She also added that along with the food tasting, there will be a silent auction offering packages containing “everything you need to host a holiday party in your home, showcase your business, have a night on the town or pamper yourself with the fi nest in relaxation and luxury.”

This year’s participating restaurants are: Black Water Grille, Hilltop House Restaurant, Highland Country Club, Morgan’s Chop House, Pierro’s Italian Bistro, ScrubOaks Restaurant, Sherefe Mediterranean Grill and Steve The Southern Gourmet.

Beer and wine will be provided by Healy Wholesale, while coffee will be courtesy of the folks at Rude Awakening. An evening like this is not complete without music, so get ready to be thoroughly entertained by national jazz recording artist Reggie Codrington.

The Signature Chefs Auction will be held on Nov. 20 at the Hotel Bordeaux & Conference Center from 5:30 to 8:45 p.m. Lorna Ricotta of Ethos Creative Group is this year’s chairwoman. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Cape Fear Neonatology Service and New Century Bank are corporate sponsors. Tickets are $75 each or $125 per couple. Tables with reserved seating for eight are available for $750. Remember, there are a very limited number of tickets available so to get yours, contact Heindselman at 483-3691 or online at cheindselman@matchofdimes.com.

The 2011 Signature Chefs Auction Ambassador is Jackson Brooks, the son of Jennifer & Tim Brooks. Jackson, born at 25 weeks gestational age, weighed just slightly more than 2 lbs as a newborn. As a result, he spent nearly three months in the NICU at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. He received treatments developed through March of Dimes funding.

Preventing birth defects and infant mortality is the key focus of the March of Dimes. The Cape Fear Division is headquartered in Fayetteville and includes the counties of Cumberland, Robeson, Scotland, Sampson, Lee, Moore, Hoke and Harnett. So, plan to come out and support a fantastic cause, come hungry and make sure that little black dress (or suit) has plenty of breathing room.

Photo: The Cape Fear Division of the March of Dimes is hosting its annual Signature Chefs Auction on Nov. 20.