By
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER PETER F. VALLONE JR.
For Immediate Release October 29th, 2013
Michael Pantelidis
718-274-4500
On October 28th, Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr. was a celebrity judge during the World Cares Center’s 12th Annual Iron Skillet Cook-Off – held each year to celebrate heroes that save lives during disasters and other emergency situations.
The cook-off featured head-to-head match-ups between five top celebrity chefs and five New York City firefighters. This year’s winner was Joe O’Rourke of Engine 63 in the Bronx. Chef Carsten Johannsen from Commerce Restaurant came in second, with Salvatore DePaola from Engine 160 in Staten Island and Joseph L. Chiodi from Engine 262 in Astoria, Queens tying for third place.
The other celebrity judges at the event were Valerie Smaldone, radio personality and talk show host; John Sterling, play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees; Plaxico Burress, former New York Giants and Jets wide receiver; Greg Mocker, correspondent for PIX 11 News; Freeman McNeil, former New York Jets running back; Stevie Brown, current New York Giants safety; former New York Knick Melvyn J. Davis; and Thomas Huff, former Washington Redskins offensive guard.
All proceeds from the event went to World Cares Center, a charity founded following the attacks on September 11th which aims to alleviate the pain and suffering of accidents and disasters by empowering communities through disaster response training.