Bidding opens Tuesday for the annual Cajun Sugar Co-op/Daily Iberian Cajun-Creole Cookbook Cook-off, a chance for the winning bidder to be wined and dined while local programs supported through the United Way of Iberia get a boost in funding.

Each year, The Daily Iberian invites cooks from around the Teche Area to send in recipes for an annual cookbook, sponsored by Cajun Sugar Co-op and the newspaper. These recipes are collected and a committee selects some it thinks are interestingly delicious. Then the cooks who submitted the recipes compete for prizes, and bragging rights, at the cook-off July 22 at the Veterans Building in City Park.

The person, company or group submitting the highest bid will be the judges — 10 diners in all — for the cook-off.

Last year, Hollemire International, Private Workforce and Bruno Habetz submitted the winning bid of $1,200, but with the generous tip of $1,600, the United Way got $2,800 to help support local programs for people in need.

“It’s a good cause and it’s good for the community,” said Tommy Thibodeaux, CEO of Cajun Sugar Co-Op, which has sponsored the cook-off with The Daily Iberian for several years.

The night of the cook-off, four dishes from each of the eight categories will be served up to the 10 diners by volunteers with the United Way.

“We really look forward to the event,” said Corleen Rouly, executive director of the United Way of Iberia. “We feel so fortunate to receive funds from this event.”

The diners will rank dishes in each category — appetizers, salads, soups and gumbos, seafood entrees, meat and fowl entrees, rice and jambalaya, vegetables and desserts — and winners in each category will receive an award.

Bids will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. You can submit a bid by calling The Daily Iberian at 365-6773 and listen for the prompts to dial 0 to reach the receptionist’s desk.

“(The winners) get wined and dined and treated royally by United Way volunteers. It’s a great community event, a terrific night of great food and great fun,” said Will Chapman, publisher of The Daily Iberian.