The competition was fierce, but four fire departments emerged as champions of their craft at Sertoma’s Sixth Annual BIG Event Fundraiser and Firefighter’s Cook-off on Saturday May 16th at 115 Bourbon Street. Local firefighters competed in the chicken, chili, ribs and ethnic categories, and winners celebrated their victories by hoisting the Sertoma Centre traveling trophies into the air and graciously accepting their own baskets of culinary goodies.
And the winners of the BIG Event 2009 Firefighter’s Cook-off are:
Ethnic: Ken Marotzke and Scott Hemesath, Alsip Fire Department for Steak a la MexicanChili: Jim Waranoski, Chicago Ridge Fire Department for Chili Lovers Chili
Chicken: Dan Ennesser, Chicago Fire Department for Danimal’s Tasty TetrazziniRibs: Jim Leibach and Steve Zook, Niles Fire Department for Tillerboy Ribs
Each participating chef received a basket as a thank you gift, and the winners walked away with a traveling trophy for their category and a small trophy to keep as a reminder of their superior cooking skills. Over 700 supporters came out to sample delicious dishes, enjoy the live entertainment and rub elbows with our panel of celebrity judges which included WGN-TV’s Dan Roan, NBC-5’s Peggy Kusinski, former Chicago Blackhawk Grant Mulvey, former Chicago White Sox player Ron Kittle, and former Chicago Bears Brian Baschnagel and Jim Thornton.
This year’s event was a rousing success, and Sertoma Centre would like to thank everyone who came out to show their support and help raise money for the programming we offer to individuals with disabilities. Sertoma Centre, Inc. is a community service agency located in Alsip and serves over 600 individuals with developmental, physical and emotional disabilities and/or mental illness.
For more information about Sertoma Centre, please call Melanie Jones at 708-371-9700, ext. 206.
Pictured to the right Winners of the BIG Event 2009 Firefighters Cook-off: (Left to Right) Steve Zook, Jim Leibach, Ken Marotzke, Scott Hemesath, Dan Ennesser (Chicago), Jim Waranoski (Chicago Ridge)