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City Tech Hosts Preliminary Round of FDNY Chefs’ Five Alarm Cookoff
According to Daily News reporters Leah Chernikoff and Nicole Lyn Pesce, “There are two things New York City firefighters take seriously: fighting fires and fixing dinner.” During October, New York City’s “Bravest” chefs are competing in the initial round of the Daily News’ first Five Alarm Cookoff Competition, sponsored in part by the Municipal Credit Union. After competing for top honors in their respective boroughs, the winners will come together in November for the final round to be aired on the “Rachael Ray Show.”
Separates rounds of competition were held at New York City College of Technology (City Tech) in Downtown Brooklyn and Port Richmond High School on Staten Island the first weekend in October. Among the Brooklyn event judges were City Tech Department of Hospitality Management Chair Elizabeth Schaible and City Tech alumnus Michael Lomonaco ’84, executive chef and managing partner of Porter House New York. Other judges were John DeLucie, executive chef and partner at Waverly Inn, and David Sumner, the Municipal Credit Union’s region manager.
But the firehouse chefs and judges weren’t the only food lovers hard at work during the Brooklyn competition. Under the expert coordination of Professor Claire Stewart, City Tech hospitality management students lent their time and talents to assist the firehouse chefs in preparing and presenting their dishes and in clean-up duty.
“The students were extremely helpful,” said Carole Coleman, senior vice president and general manager of Karlitz & Company, which is coordinating the city-wide competition. “Their enthusiasm and support definitely added to the success of the event. I know the professionals involved were very impressed, which is testament to the terrific program you have [at City Tech].”
10.26.09
