You may not be able to have your cake and eat it too, but at the Let Them Eat Cake competition, you might be able to win some money for it. The competition awards the most artistic and delicious wedding cake designs with some pretty sweet prizes, including trips to Florida and the Caribbean. More than 20 pastry artists will display their edible masterpieces, but if you think you can bake one better, you've got until Friday at 5 p.m. to enter. Students can try their hand in the free student competition. Judges aren't saying what the prize is, only that it's worth $1,000. Proceeds benefit the City of Hope Cancer Center. Let Them Eat Cake, Park Hyatt at the Bellevue, Broad and Walnut sts., 215-985-0869, www.cityofhope.org/letthemeatcake.

While some gripe about immigrants taking jobs from "real" Americans, none of Philadelphia chef Joseph Poon's fans is complaining. In fact, they're honoring him at the Taste of Liberty benefit. Poon moved to this country in 1972 with $8 and a limited knowledge of English. After 34 years he has built a reputation as an Asian cuisine pioneer, a food sculptor (think watermelon swans), an author and leader of the Wok 'n Walk tours of Philadelphia's Chinatown. He's also the go-to Asian food guy for The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Tonight Show. Even with his busy schedule he finds the time to teach cooking classes for underprivileged youths, test water purity and sponsor other immigrants. Be there to honor someone who came to this city with so little, yet has given it so much. A Taste of Liberty, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St., 215-832-0900, www.hiaspa.org.

Christina Pirello was diagnosed with leukemia at 26, but by then it had been with her so long the doctors feared there was nothing left to do. After a tip from a friend, Pirello discovered "The Cancer Diet," what she calls the best-kept secret in America. Although her doctors don't acknowledge the diet as the reason, her cancer started weakening within a couple months and in less than two years her body showed no signs. Since then Pirello has become an author and an Emmy-winning cooking show host. This week she'll be here to tell you about healthy diets to beat back terminal disease and prepare a guilt-free three-course meal. Lunch and Learn, Cork, 90 Haddon Ave., Westmont, N.J., 856-833-9800, www.corknj.com.