TOP FIREHOUSE AND RESTAURANT CHEFS BATTLE IT OUT IN THE KITCHEN TO BENEFIT EMERGENCY RESPONDERS
Event Shines a Spotlight on Everyday Heroes
On Monday, October 22, 2012, World Cares Center, Inc. (WCC) (http://www.worldcares.org) will host its eleventh annual Iron Skillet® Cook Off. This distinctive culinary competition between firehouse chefs and the Tri-State’s top restaurant chefs supports and honors the resilient spirit of communities. The event, held at Crimson (915 Broadway) from 6:00 – 9:00 PM, is open to the public, and 100% of the proceeds benefit WCC and its work in coordinating and training leaders and volunteers in disaster response. Find out more about the event here: http://www.ironskilletcookoff.org.
Returning emcee Valerie Smaldone, a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and #1 on-air personality in the New York radio market, joins a panel of celebrity judges to determine which chef will take top honors. Highlights of this memorable event include craft beer pairings from Brooklyn Brewery, signature appetizers and desserts from renowned Miami chef Adrianne Calvo, and a live auction with unique offerings such as a private Maker’s Mark Bourbon Tasting, a two-night stay at the elegant Distrikt Hotel in NYC, and a trip for two to Italy.
This year’s event honors “everyday heroes.” Honoree Queens Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., returns to take part in the event and is joined by his brothers – Paul and Perry Vallone. A New York tradition among the emergency response community, the Iron Skillet® Cook Off is World Cares Center’s way of thanking their family of supporters.
The event pairs professional chefs from some of the Tri-State’s most exciting restaurants with firefighter chefs. Participating firefighters submit an original recipe for the competition. They are then paired with a professional chef who is challenged to reinvent the dish with their own skill and flair.
The Chef Match-ups are as follows:
- Joe Russo, Ladder 156, Brooklyn v. Diane DiMeo, DiMeo Restaurant Group
Smothered Pork Chops and Quinoa Medley
- Ron Venner, Engine 42, Bronx v. Mike Carrino, Pig & Prince Restaurant
Spicy Apple Pork with Potato Pancake & “Brusselkraut”
- Pete Lazarcheck, Engine 291, Queens v. Matt Gibson, Legends Hospitality at Yankee Stadium
Skirt Steak with Burgundy Cream Sauce, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Green Beans & Mushrooms
- Khalid Baylor, Ladder 14, Manhattan v. David Martinez, The 5 and Diamond Restaurant
Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffles
- Robert Marolla, Engine 165, Staten Island v. Jack Koumbis, Assembly Steakhouse
White Lightening Surf & Turf
Additional celebrity judges include: Sukanya Krishnan, Host/Reporter of WPIX 11, Soterios Johnson, Morning Edition WNYC Radio, Grant Marshall, Former NHL New Jersey Devils player, Freeman McNeil, Former NFL New York Jets player, Ben Aaron, Reporter for NBC, and Lynda Baquero, Consumer Reporter for NBC 4 New York, and Thomas Huff.
Sponsors include: Clear Channel, Newmark Knight Frank, Turner Construction Company, London Fischer LLP, RailWorks Corporation, Metronome Hospitality Group, Brooklyn Brewery and many others.
Corporate sponsorship packages are still available for the event. Individual tickets are $200 and can be purchased at www.ironskilletcookoff.org, or by calling 212-563-7570.
Media representatives are welcome at the event. To RSVP, to arrange an interview with Lisa Orloff or any of the participating firefighters, or to get photos of the Cook Off, please contact Adriana Negulescu at 212-563-7570 ext. 211 or outreach@worldcares.org
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World Cares Center (WCC), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in New York City after the 9/11 attacks, works to empower communities to prepare and respond effectively to disasters worldwide. To learn more about WCC, visit www.worldcares.org.
