World Cares Center's 11th Annual Iron Skillet Cook Off: A Culinary Match-up That Sizzles

World Cares Center (WCC) is gearing up to host its eleventh annual Iron Skillet Cook Off. The event will be held on Monday, October 22, 2012, at Crimson restaurant (915 Broadway) from 6:00pm-10:00pm. The firehouse chefs make it their mission to bring their best dishes - only those recipes that pass muster among their firehouse brothers will be prepared. We then pair them with a top NY/NJ Tri-State restaurant chef who tries to improve on the dish with their own style and flavor. The celebrity judges will decide who has prepared the best dish to take home the Iron Skillet Champion title. For more information and tickets go to: http://www.ironskilletcookoff.org.

Everyone wins on this night - firehouse chefs get the recognition and "thank you" they so richly deserve, restaurant chefs get to compete in a fun, supportive venue, and our long-standing corporate sponsors get to give to a fundraiser that gives back three-fold throughout the year in emergency preparedness training. In addition to the cook off itself, the event will honor three "everyday heroes": Queens Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. and his two brothers, Perry Vallone and Paul Vallone. In July 2012, while enjoying a day at the beach, these three brothers sprang into action to help save two young girls struggling in rough water off Long Branch, NJ. There is also a fantastic live auction with everything from spa treatments and fitness memberships to hotel tickets and comedy shows.

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. Dino Redzic, Uncle Paul's Pizza New York
Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffles
- Robert Marolla, Engine 165, Staten Island v. Jack Koumbis, Assembly Steakhouse
White Lightning Surf & Turf
Iron Skillet Celebrity Judges:
Valerie Smaldone, Radio Personality and Talk Show Host, Iron Skillet emcee and celebrity judge
Councilmember Peter Vallone, Jr., Councilmember District 22, Queens, honored guest and judge
Sukanya Krishnan, Reporter and Host of WPIX 11, judge
Grant Marshall, Former NHL player (New Jersey Devils), judge
Ben Aaron, Reporter for NBC Universal, judge
Soterios Johnson, Morning Edition WNYC Radio, judge
Freeman McNeil, Former NFL player (New York Jets), judge
Thomas Huff, Former NFL player (Washington Redskins), judge
Lynda Baquero, Consumer Reporter (NBC 4 New York), judge
Stevie Brown, NFL Player (Giants), judge
Adrianne Calvo, Restaurant owner and chef, celebrity guest chef

Iron Skillet Past Winners:
2011& 2009: Robert Painter, Engine 63, Bronx
2010: Jerry Morgan, Ladder 108, Brooklyn
2008: James Lowe, Ladder 33, Bronx
2006: Marc Murphy, Benchmarc Restaurants

WCC's Long-term Corporate Sponsors:
Brooklyn Brewery
Blackstone
Clear Channel Communications
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
Turner Construction Company
London Fischer LLP
RailWorks Corporation
Metronome Hospitality Group.

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.or