Cops in the Kitchen: 11th Annual Cast Iron Chef

On October 15, NYIT de Seversky Mansion opened its doors to law enforcement officers from the Nassau, Suffolk, Brookville, Old Westbury, and New York City (NYPD) police departments. Participants traded their badges for butter and handcuffs for hot pans as they simmered, seared, and sautéed dishes for the 11th Annual Cast Iron Chef Cooking Competition.

Modeled after popular television shows Chopped and Iron Chef, the cook-off is held in appreciation for the police departments that serve New York Tech’s Long Island and New York City campuses. This year’s event fulfilled a dual purpose as part of Inauguration Week—five days celebrating community, innovation, entrepreneurship, and research as New York Tech’s fifth president, Jerry Balentine, D.O., is formally installed.

“Thank you for the police officers who are here. Every year, this is a very exciting event,” said Robert Rizzuto, the evening’s emcee and dining services director for both NYIT de Seversky Mansion and New York Tech, as he welcomed guests.

“The essence of this event is to move forward with us being better neighbors with everyone around us,” said President Balentine in his opening remarks. “We, as an institution, want to be here for all of you.”

Participants then assembled at their cooking stations and began chopping, dicing, and slicing for the 25-minute challenge period, captivating onlookers.

The five teams were challenged to create one dish using specific ingredients found in a mystery basket: top sirloin beef, butternut squash, butternut squash ravioli, cippolini onions, brussels sprouts, chantarelle mushrooms, and glazed doughnuts. Basic ingredients and spices were available as well.

Event judges were: Casey Erdmann, co-founder of Fjord Vineyards in Milton, N.Y.; Stacey Bogdan, director of development at New York Tech; second-year medical student Samantha Tola; and Daniel Ferrara (D.O. ’86), co-vice chairman of the New York Institute of Technology Board of Trustees.

“It was so fun tasting new and creative recipes from the competitors,” said Tola, a member of NYITCOM’s Culinary Medicine and Nutrition Organization. Dean of NYITCOM and the School of Health Professions Nicole Wadsworth, D.O., approached Tola with the opportunity to join the judging panel. “Simultaneously, I was able to spend time with those in my community and support our local law enforcement as they cooked for a cause.”

Judging criteria included teamwork, food handling, timing, ingredient usage, presentation, creativity, and, of course, flavor to give teams their final score. Third place was awarded to the New York City Police Department, while the Suffolk County Police Department received second place. In the end, it was the Old Westbury P.D., who took home a first-place win.

Every team was a winner, though, as NYIT de Seversky Mansion made a $2,000 donation to each team’s charity of choice. The Suffolk County Police Department selected New York Tech alumna Eileen Shanahan’s (B.F.A. ’87) Warrior Ranch Foundation, the NYPD chose the Caitlin Rose McDonald Memorial Fund, the Old Westbury Police Department decided on the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, the Nassau County Police Department opted for the Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipe Band, and the Brookville Police Department picked the Brookville Explorers.