The Iron Skillet Cook Off

Firefighters vs. Professional Chefs By Terri and Martin Hirsch The Iron Skillet Cook Off was held this year at Strata Restaurant, 915 Broadway @ 21st Street. An exclusive VIP Happy Hour from 5:30-6:30 started the kick-off. It featured Brooklyn Breweries’s boutiques line of double fermented specialty beers: Lager, Pennant Ale, Brown Ale, Weisse Beer and many more. Held every fall since 2002, the Iron Skillet Cook Off has become New York City’s most sought after culinary competition. Firemen from the five boroughs of New York City submitted recipes to a committee who picked one firemen’s recipe from each borough and then submitted each recipe to a restaurant group. Five New York City Firefighters and five of New York City’s Renowned Chefs matched their talents to claim top honors in the Iron Skillet Cook Off. Each one was competing from one of the winning recipes from each borough. Lisa Orloff, Founder and Executive Director of World Cares Center introduced the Master of Ceremonies Radio Personality Valerie Smaldone as the competition began at 6:30pm. Lisa Orloff founded World Cares Center after her experiences as a volunteer in New York City’s 9/11 relief effort. Today, she remains committed to supporting community-led response and recovery efforts in areas affected by disaster, and filling gaps in available mental health support for the responders who often become secondary disaster victims. The Competition: Flank Steak with Bacon, Mozzarella and Portobello Mushrooms Firefighter James Lowe, Bronx Ladder 33 Vs. Executive Chef Brian O’Donohoe of Primesteak New York Murin Glazed FiletMignon With Wasabi Mayonnaise Firefighter Jeffrey Wallen, Manhattan Engine 8 Ladder 2 Vs. Executive Chef Mark Anaro of Roy’s New York Butternut Squash Ravioli With Sage Brown Butter Firefighter Sky Shepard, Brooklyn Engine 3, Ladder 12 Vs. Executive Chef David Rotter of Campo Candy Apple Chicken With Julienne Vegetables and Corn Cake Firefighter Paul W. Rut, Queens Special Operations Command (SOC) Vs. Executive Chef Paola Apricella of Amarone Ristorante Salmon Wellington Firefighter John Welborn, Staten Island Engine 153, Ladder 77 Vs. Executive Chef David Ogren of Ammos This exciting event had great entertainment, delicious food, celebrity judges and a raffle. One of the prizes was to be chosen as a guest judge and vote for the recipe you liked best. The prize winner mingled with the celebrity judges and made his opinion count in crowning the winner of the Iron Skillet Cook Off 2008. Other raffle prizes included dining experiences from participating restaurants and two limited edition prints on The Statute of Liberty and The Twin Towers by artist Peter B. Kaplan. Celebrity Judges included Tony LoBianco, Tom Westman, Sukanya Krishman and Jim Kerr. All proceeds from the Iron Skillet Cook Off 2008 go directly to World Cares Center (WCC), who believe the most effective long-term disaster recovery efforts are achieved through communities and relief agencies working together to ensure a comprehensive long-term plan for response and recovery. Top Honor of the Iron Skillet Cook Off 2008: Firefighter James Lowe, Bronx Engine 33 with his Rolled, Tied and Braised Pinwheels of Flank Steak with Bacon, Mozzarella and Portobello Mushrooms