Sixteen years ago, Clark's younger brother died at All Children's after food poisoning destroyed his kidneys.

But Clark and his family never forgot the hospital staff's efforts to save the 6-year-old.

"They treated us like family," he said. "I've always hoped for a way to pay them back."

The cook off featured amateur chefs, each representing a different culinary region.

For the $85 ticket price, visitors got to sample each chef's creations and vote for their favorites in three categories: Best Overall Taste, Most Creative and Best Use of the Secret Ingredient.

As on the reality cooking show Iron Chef, the contestants had to include a "secret ingredient" in every dish: marsala wine.

Unfortunately, Clark had chosen "Floribbean" cuisine, a uniquely Floridian fusion of Caribbean flavors which does not traditionally use marsala.

His menu of lobster bisque, Caribbean jerk pork marsala and fruit with marsala zabaglione a light Italian custard, however, overcame that hurdle to win the "best use of the secret ingredient" award.

Another taster, 3-year-old Allie Blain, had plenty of energy but little appetite for the complex flavors on display.

Allie, who has a rare disease that stops her blood from clotting, has been a patient at All Children's for about six months.

When asked to describe her condition, Allie put it in layman's terms:

"My blood's not sticky."

Her mother, Renee Blain, said the doctors at All Children's take the time to explain everything to their young patients.

"The first time they did a bone marrow biopsy they spent 30 minutes showing it to her with a puppet," Blain said.

Allie got to simulate the procedure on the puppet, which even bled when she pricked its "skin."

Renee Blain said her daughter looks forward to seeing her doctors.

"They know the names of all 10 of the dolls she brings," she said.

The take for the event was unavailable Sunday evening, but 300 of the $85 tickets were sold and sales of young All Children's patients' artwork, $10 cookbooks and a silent auction added to the sum.