Held every fall since 2002, the Iron Skillet Cook Off is World Cares Center’s signature fundraiser, and has become one of New York City’s most popular culinary competitions. The event involves five New York City firefighters and five of New York City’s top celebrity chefs matching their talents in a fiery contest for top honors. This event has grown into a New York City tradition that reaches a wide audience of professionals that have a commitment to WCC and its mission.

We are already gearing up for the Iron Skillet Cook Off 2010 and are working to make this year's event the best yet! As many of you know, the Iron Skillet Cook Off started as a “thank you” in 2002 to all the rescue workers and volunteers that gave selflessly during the 9/11 relief effort. The idea came from of one of the firefighters who the founding board volunteered with during in the aftermath of the attacks.Today the Iron Skillet Cook Off is a celebration of spirit, a reminder of what communities can achieve when they pull together and a way to support the signature training programs that ensure we will never have to learn our 9/11 lesson all over again.The evening is a good time for all with great entertainment, celebrity judges and, of course, delicious food!

Last year, we hosted over 400 guests, including members of the New York City Council, leaders from the construction industry, finance, public relations, communications, and insurance industries, to name a few. Our celebrity judges and participants went out of their way to ensure the event's live auction was sensational. Media coverage included CW11's Morning Show, Clear Channel's major radio stations, and various other local magazines and newspapers.


This year, the Cook Off will take place on October 25th at Crimson. More details to follow soon.

Click here to buy tickets!

Click here to apply to be a competing chef
Click here to apply to be a competing firefighter

Chef Alejandro Cantagallo
Floresta

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Alejandro is the son of Argentine and Brazilian immigrants. His exposure to food began at an early age, growing up at his parent’s butcher shop, which served as the premiere destination for the Argentine community accessing Argentine staples beginning in 1974. He quickly understood food as central to building and sustaining community, and strengthening culture in the Diaspora.

In his adult years, Cantagallo co-operated Don Francisco’s Butcher Shop and expanded its charcuterie wholesale business creating a beacon for Argentine restaurants in NYC. Through his culinary training, he has had the opportunity to work with celebrity chef and author Daisy Martinez as a cook for her catering company, chef John Doherty (Waldorf-Astoria) in opening Porto Vivo in Huntington Village, NY; supported the American Institute of Wine and Foodthrough its Days of Taste program and competed in the Grand Salon Culinaire of the Societe Philanthropique at the International Hotel/Motel Restaurant Show. More recently Chef Cantagallo was awarded the "Best Entree" at the Queens - Taste of the World Event.

Chef Cantagallo now operates Floresta, an Argentine restaurant featuring Argentine soul and comfort foods, as owner/chef in Sunnyside, New York.

Chef Joseph Dobias
Joe Doe

Joseph Dobias was born and raised in Port Jefferson Station New York. His first job in the hospitality business was a position as busboy at a local seafood place. Through the years, Joe developed passion for restaurants and ended up in Ithaca, NY at Cornell University’s world renowned Hotel School. Since then he has worked for Celebrity Chef Ming Tsai (Blue Ginger Restaurant, Boston area). Joe then became Executive Chef of Blue Grotto in New York City and soon after Executive Chef of Tupelo Grill. As the Executive Chef, Joe has opened many restaurants in NYC such as Coast (financial District), Viet Café (Tribeca), Sullivan Diner (West Village), Quaint (Sunnyside), SavorNY (LES). Chef Dobias’ years in Manhattan as an accomplished Chef have been recognized by TimeOut New York, Zagat, and the NY Sun.

In 2008, Joe finally had the opportunity to open his own restaurant with his partner Jill. JoeDoe restaurant is a 27 seat ‘Aggressive American’ restaurant located on first street in the East Village. Since its opening in 2008, JoeDoe has been recognized and reviewed by The New York Times (‘Chef Joe puts out brawling dishes with bold ideas and twists)’, Time Out NY (5/6 stars), The New Yorker, The NY Post, and has been included in many other publications. JoeDoe restaurant has a 23 in Zagat 2010 guide for food and service. JoeDoe is also Michelin guide “recommended.” In October 2009, Chef Joe made his first TV appearance on Food Network’s hit show ‘Chopped’ (a cooking competition). On ‘Chopped’, Joe competed and won 10,000 dollars. Chef Joe looks forward to expanding his JoeDoe brand into a sandwich shop sometime in the New Year.


Mario Gentile
Nove

Mario Gentile was born in Brooklyn in 1974. At age 12 he started working in his family business in Bensonhurst Brooklyn, a split level business with an Italian restaurant “Il Grottino” and an European style café/bakery “Caffe Mille Luci”, which operated for 28 years. Mario graduated from the New York Restaurant School in 2000. He furthered his culinary art when he worked in Italy’s Lombardy, Lazio, and Alto Adige region.

Upon his return to New York, Mario lent his talent to CoCo Pazzo, Terrence Brennan, the Hilton Hotel, the Rainbow Room and Cipriani. During his time as Executive Chef at Angelina’s Restaurant in Staten Island, the venue received 4 ½ stars by Staten Island Advance, the highest rating ever given to a restaurant in the borough.

Presently Mario is the Head Chef and Co Owner of Nove Restaurant, also in Staten Island. Nove is a 120 seats restaurant with table side service and private dinning affairs.