Bayonne Fire Department
Chef Bob Bartos

Bob has been cooking most of his life and learned a lot by watching his Mom cook. He loves to cook with the fresh ingredients and has no problem cooking for 10 Firefighters a tour. He is a 26 year veteran and assigned to Tower Ladder 2.

Sous Chefs:
Captain Mike Maguire (Engine 3)
Firefighter Roger Nunez (Rescue 1)
Firefighter Craig Sisk (Tower Ladder 2)

Belleville Fire Department
Chef Dennis Ives

Sous Chefs:
Cliff Lawrence
Tom Escott

Carteret Fire Department
Head Chef Capt. Mark Virag (25 yrs)

Co Chefs:
Capt. Sam Goddess (12 yrs)
F/F Brendon Rhodes (7 yrs)
F/F Jay Lombardi (6 yrs)
EMT Chris Mormile (6 yrs)

Representing 56 years of cooking expertise!

Cranford Fire Department
Chef Matt Lubin

I've been a career firefighter in Cranford for two years, having previously served four years as a
volunteer. I became interested in cooking at an early age by watching Emeril Lagasse on the food network. I remember my father taking me to a live cooking expo with chef Paul Dillon in Union, which really accelerated my interest in it. My favorite type of food to prepare is that of the Mediterranean cultures; mainly Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Greek. I've traveled to Italy, Greece, and France and absolutely love their food culture.

Hamilton Township Fire District #2
Chef Raymond J. Krajcsovics

I started my fire career as volunteer in 1986 and became a career firefighter in 2003 with Washington Township and transferred to Hamilton Township in 2007. Ray is also a part time paramedic, EMT instructor and Fire Inspector. I started cooking as a child with my grandmother. When I started working in the firehouse, someone needed to cook. I soon realized that the cook was a pretty good position. You get to eat what YOU want and there is no cleaning after meals. Since I don't watch sports, it is common for me to watch the Food Network and seek different ideas for meals.

Elizabeth Fire Department
Chef Dennis Connor

I've been a firefighter for 25 years and cooking for the guys at the firehouse since day one. My prior cooking experience was at Jack Coopers Celebrity Deli for 5 years.

Sous Chefs:
Gregg LaSpata
Tim Mulroy

Linden Fire Department
Chef Chris Lukenda

Chris began cooking when he was around twelve years old helping his father at times in the family owned "sweet shop" on Wood Avenue in Linden. He began his first real job at sixteen at another delicatessen in Linden where many of his catering and cooking skills really took off. At nineteen years old, Chris opened his open delicatessen where his "competition" with cooking began. His deli was a block away from where he developed most of his skills of the trade.

"Duty called" in 1989 when Chris accepted a job with Union County Corrections and had to make the grueling decision to sell his business to accept this job while he was awaiting a pending career in the fire service. Duty called again in 1991 when the Linden Fire Department hired him as a firefighter joining the ranks with his father and eldest brother Larry. Chris then began to "re-polish" his cooking and culinary skills in the kitchen of the firehouses and was soon known as the one to have in their house if they needed a good cook. While working with the fire department, Chris worked part time in many restaurants in all aspects from cooking to bartending working for a period in the wine industry as well, picking up numerous tips in food and wine from some of the best chefs and sommeliers in Union County. His love and passion for food and wine still continues strong today. Chris plans on going back to the food and wine industry with aspirations of his own restaurant in the near future. His dream of that restaurant nearly came true two years ago when he was a finalist for selection on Chef Gordon Ramsey's popular television cooking show, Hell's Kitchen in Los Angeles. He continues to visit many restaurants in NJ "picking apart" what they do to one day make his dream a reality. Be sure to look for that opening for a certain gastronomic experience.

New Brunswick Fire Department
Chef Ray Schaffer

Pictured are just a few members of the New Brunswick Fire Departments’ 2nd Platoon cooking team. As with most things associated with the fire service, positive results come not from individual effort but from a collaborative effort of many. Ray gets the ceremonial title of chef most of the time not so much for possessing superior cooking skills but mostly for being the biggest control freak of the bunch.

North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue
Herman Peters

Herman enjoys going to New York Giant Football games with his wife Ginger, and daughter Regan. He also loves to go fishing, and hunting. He is a 29 year veteran of North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue.

Roselle Fire Department: B Platoon
Master Chef Claudio Ramierez

Sous Chefs:
F/F Chris Laba
Capt. Bob Pulidore
Battalion Chief Pat Kelleher

One of the best things about working in a fire house is sitting down together and enjoying a good meal with one another. Some fire fighters "brown bag" it, others go the fast food route but us "B" Platoon Chefs enjoy creating our own culinary masterpieces. The master chef is F/F Claudio Ramierez who specializes in cooking wonderful, mouth-watering dinners using the grill. Claudio's Argentinean roots are partial to preparing some very "healthy" helpings of meat and vegetable dishes combined with his own signature sauces. Assisted by F/F Chris Laba, Capt. Bob Pulidore, and Battalion Chief Pat Kelleher, on any given night when B Platoon is on duty you can be sure the boys are eatin' good!! Hopefully, we will be able to bring some of the flavor and fine fare to others at this event. And, most of all, we hope we won't get interrupted by the bell going off!! Bon Appetite!!!

Trenton Fire Department
Chef Mike Jones

Mike started on the Trenton Fire Dept. in 1989, and was promoted to Captain in 2001. He has been assigned to Ladder Companies for most of his career. He started cooking because he got tired of ordering dinner out. He started by reading cookbooks. He also watched whatever cooking shows were on at the time. Most were on public television, but they were all about cooking and not about entertaining, therefore they were very informative. He experimented a lot, both at home and at work, watched a lot of guys on the job that could cook and learned from them as well. He won a contest on the Food Network’s “Emeril Live” and appeared on that show twice. He also appeared on “Let’s Cook” on cable channel CN8. He still cooks every night tour and most day tours as well.

Union Fire Department
Chef Louis Ferroni

The Union Fire Department is excited to be a part of the Cooked and Uncorked Cook-Off! Representing Local 46 from the UFD is - Chef Louis Ferroni, Chef John Sorrentino, Chef Daniel Donza and Chef Frank Manzo. "We still have no idea what were making (just weeks away from the event) but bet your ass were taking home the Gold! ....Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! to All....

Proud Winners 2010 Cook-Off!