MyCentralJersey.com http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090617/LIFE09/90616033/1003/RSS01
By LOIS HEYMAN
STAFF WRITER
Four Central Jersey mayors recently cooked up a storm in the kitchens of Wegmans Food Market in Woodbridge, all in the name of healthy eating.
Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac issued a cook-off challenge, and on June 10, three other mayors, Nancy M. Malool from Scotch Plains, Francis “Mac” Womack from North Brunswick and Jack O’Leary from South Amboy, took up the toque and threw down their dishes, aided and abetted by chefs from Wegmans, the state Mayors’ Wellness Campaign and the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
Wegmans’ shoppers crowded around the mayors’ tables arrayed with their ingredients as they “suited up” for battle, and issued taunts to each other.
“I heard Mac is cooking alligator; that’s pretty .‚.‚. weird,” said McCormac of Womack’s choice. “”I hope it tastes terrible.”
Womack’s dish would end up on his elaborately decorated table, which flaunted the ‘gator theme with signs, plastic toys and alligator-shaped breads. But first, all the mayors hustled off to the kitchen, to grill, chop and sauce under the watchful eyes of Wegmans’ chefs.
“As with last year, the chefs made suggestions, such as which pans to use, or what spices to add, but they didn’t touch anything; the mayors cook,” said Carol Womack, the North Brunswick mayor’s wife.
Paul Malool, the “first husband” of Scotch Plains, said he had great hopes for his wife’s entry: “She does wonderful cooking every night in the house.”
Although he said his favorite is her homemade spaghetti sauce, he cheered on her pork loin with fennel apple salad preparations, along with their daughters, Amanda and Emily.
“This is a lot of fun, but it also generates a lot of interest in eating healthy,’ said Woodbridge Councilman Gregg Ficarra, the local chair of the Mayors Wellness Campaign. “We heard about a Healthy Cook-off going on in South Jersey, so
we’re really happy to have Wegmans involvement with us here.”
When the dishes were ready, a judges’ panel consisting of Wegmans Woodbridge Executive Chef Matt Cerchio, New York Jets return leader Bruce Harper, State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) and Wegmans Woodbridge Manager Kevin Bamford sampled all of the food.
“Everyone was a winner,” said Emily Littman, director of the state Mayors Wellness Campaign. “Best Presentation” went to Womack’s Cajun Alligator. “Most Nutritious” went to Malool’s Roast Pork. “Best Tasting” went to McCormac’s Grilled Brown Sugar Barbecue Chicken, and “Best Overall” went to O’Leary’s Stuffed Filet Mignon.
The Mayors Healthy Cook-Offs are sponsored by the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute and the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
Door prizes were donated by Wegmans, LA Fitness, the Mayors Wellness Campaign and Cliff’s Bar. A nutritional analysis of the recipes was conducted by Leigh Anderson of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Wegmans donated food and gift baskets as door prizes, which were raffled off for attendees, and samples of organic companies’ products were available throughout the store during the event.
Lois Heyman: 908-512-2731; lheyman@MyCentralJersey.com
