World Cares Center Holds 7th Iron Skillet Cook Off 2008

By: Rochelle Zaltzman New York, November 3, 2008. The 7th annual Iron Skillet Cookoff, sponsored by World Cares Center, was held tonight at Strata on Broadway and W. 21 Street, where renowned restaurant chefs battled the city’s bravest, its FDNY firefighters, to claim top honors for their culinary creations. This wonderful evening of goodwill and gastronomic tastings was opened with a special greeting from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer who voiced his admiration and appreciation for World Cares Center’s mission — collaborating with community groups, municipalities and relief agencies to prepare and recover from disaster. World Cares Center was founded on the volunteer spirit that swept New York City during the 9/11 relief efforts. Today it represents a continuation of that compassionate character and fortitude. Over 100,000 people provided some form of relief work in the days following 9/11. Thousands more volunteered after the Gulf Coast hurricanes. Many were not affiliated with any organization and were untrained in disaster response. These courageous individuals are vital assets to their communities, but have gone underutilized, overlooked and unsupported in disaster response for too long. By supporting community-led preparedness initiatives and training unaffiliated volunteer managers, World Cares Center bridges the gap between communities’ and relief agencies’ responses to disasters. A panel of distinguished celebrity judges, such as Michael Imperioli and Tony LoBianco, to name a few, were on hand to judge the competitors’ delicious dishes. The Menu Competitors were: Ladder 33, Bronx, NY, vs. Chef Brian O’Donohoe of Primehouse Restaurant Flank steak with bacon, mozzarella and Portobello mushrooms. Special Operations Command, Queens, NY vs.Chef Paolo Apicella of Amarone Ristorante Candy Apple Chicken with Julienne vegetables and corn cake. Engine 153, Ladder 77, Staten Island, NY vs. Chef David Ogren of Ammos Restaurant Salmon Wellington. Engine 3, Ladder 12, Brooklyn, NY vs. Chef David Rotter of Campo Restaurant Butternut Squash Ravioli, with sage brown butter. Engine 8, Ladder 2, Manhattan, NY vs. Chef Mark Arnao of Roy’s NY Restaurant Mini Glazed Filet Mignon with Wasabi mayonnaise. …….and the winners are……… Third Place: Restaurant Chef, David Rotter of Campo Second Place: Firehouse Chef Jeffrey Wallen, Engine 8, Ladder 2, Manhattan First Place: Firehouse Chef James Lowe, Ladder 33, Bronx, NY Kudos and congratulations to these true culinary artists and for their support for the World Cares Center’s mission of effective community disaster response and resiliency. http://www.worldcares.org www.worldcares.org mailto:lorloff@worldcares.org lorloff@worldcares.org