Iron Chef Williamsport Competition 2012

Pastor Morris, Mark Tilburg and Dennis Weaver The fourth annual Iron-Chef Williamsport competition to support Family Promise took place on Sunday evening, March 18, 2012, before a large and lively crowd. In a hard fought battle, St. Mark's recovered the title it lost to the St. Joseph the Worker team, in 2011.

Balls Mills team at work This year, St. Mark's was challenged by an all male team from Balls Mills United Methodist Church. The Balls Mills team, nominally led by Pastor Jay Morris, included Mark Tilburg and Dennis Weaver. Pastor Morris seemed to be relegated to stirring the creamy barley risotto, as Mark and Dennis put together a meal of turkey marsala topped with mascarpone cheese, zucchini with a creamy sauce, and dessert made from a toasted tortilla shell, strawberry amaretto pudding and a chocolate port wine reduction. The meal was served with Balls Mills Naval Academy mint tea.

Making pasta Rolling black pepper pasta The St. Mark's team included regulars Pastor Elkin and Bernadette Jones, and new member Gary Weber. The team combined two of their required elements (turkey and pasta) into a ravioli. The turkey was seasoned with fresh herbs, cheese and a mid-eastern spice called za'atar, stuffed into black pepper pasta and covered with a lemon cream sauce. This was served with Brussels sprouts served in a chicken broth and cream sauce. The dessert, blueberry Jengo, was most challenging as it included home-made blueberry ice cream, fresh blueberries, puff pastry and whipped cream, all flavored with hints of lavender honey and Limón cello.

Chefs Hess, Zerbe & Grove The spoon of doom Area chefs judged the teams on taste, presentation, and originality. This year's judges were Peter Zerbe, Executive Chef of Lycoming College Dining; Chris Grove, Sous Chef of Williamsport Country Club; and, Angela Hess, Pastry/Sauté Chef of Williamsport Country Club.

The food Nicole Walz, of the country club, and Mike Ditchfield, of LeJeune Chef, refereed the event, while local entertainment personality Mike Cashera emceed.

The crowd Iron Chef Williamsport had two aims: to raise money and friends for the Family Promise program and to bring folks together for mutual enjoyment and community-building in friendly competition. The contest was projected on the large screen on stage, in Fellowship Hall. More than $4,000.00 was raised for Family Promise.

The competition was friendly. All the participants enjoyed the challenges involved in preparing and serving an exotic meal in one hour. The cause was a good one, well worth the effort.

See more:

The challenge: StMarksChurch YouTube
The competition: www.ustream.tv/recorded/21206448

The Staff