Brooklyn Firefighters Compete for "Best BBQ" Title

Brooklyn firefighters gathered at Fairway Market in Red Hook Wednesday to compete in the third annual Fairway Firefighters Food Face-Off. Four teams of firefighters from various Brooklyn firehouses competed to win the coveted title of best barbecue — the winning recipe is below.

The competition had three categories: burgers, chicken and ribs. And while the basic ingredients were the same, each team used unique ingredients and recipes to make the food their own. Jimmy Carino, head chef from one Brooklyn Heights team, for example, used Asian spices and fresh jalapenos to spice up his ribs.

But it was the juicy burgers, Italian-flavored chicken breasts and classic ribs of the Brooklyn Heights Hicks Street team that won the top prize, which included a $500 gift card from Fairway, a donation to a charity of their choice and, of course, a gleaming trophy.

"It feels very very good," said Rob Scally, a member of the winning team. "We put a lot of hard work into it, and that's the way you get things done. You can't do it by yourself. You have to do it as a team."

Below is the winning team's recipe for barbecue chicken.

 

Brooklyn Heights Hicks Street Firehouse's Barbecue Chicken
**All quantities are approximate.  

Approximately 2 to 3 chicken breasts

Italian marinade:
1 Italian herb packet of seasonings
3 tbs of olive oil
2 tbs of balsamic vinegar
1 dash of water

Sauteed spinach: 
2 to 3 cups of baby spinach
2 cloves of chopped garlic
1 tsp of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Smoked mozzarella

Red pepper sauce:
dried poblano pepper
roasted red pepper
olive oil
2 cloves of garlic
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Marinate chicken breasts in Italian marinade overnight. The next day, prepare red pepper sauce by blending dried poblano pepper, roasted red peppers, olive oil, garlic, and salt and pepper. Grill chicken breasts over coals. Saute spinach in olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. On top of cooked chicken breasts, place sauteed spinach, smoked mozzarella and top with red pepper sauce.

 

Watch the slideshow below.

Firefighters from Brooklyn competed in Fairway Market's third annual firefighter barbecue cook off in Red Hook on July 31, 2013. Four teams from firehouses throughout Brooklyn competed for the winning title.

((Jeannie Choi for WNYC))

Before grilling began, contest organizers unveiedl a secret ingredient that the firefighters had to integrate into their burger recipes: salt-preserved lemons, also known as citrons confits.

((Jeannie Choi for WNYC))

Members of the team from Brooklyn Heights Hicks Street, Engine 224, discussed their strategy for adding the citrons confits to their burger recipe.

(Jeannie Choi for WNYC)

After deciding to add minced citrons confits to the lettuce that will go on top of their burgers, Mike Gaudioso (left) and Rob Scally (right) from the Brooklyn Heights Hicks Street team carefully placed their patties on the grill. They said their secret to a good burger patty is packing the patties tight to prevent juices from running out of them when they're on the grill.

((Jeannie Choi for WNYC))

Competition judges Laura Smith (left), a radio disc jockey, and Kimberly Price, a writer for the Star-Revue, tasted the burgers from each team. The food was judged on taste, originality and use of the secret ingredient.

((Jeannie Choi for WNYC))

The next category was barbecued chicken. The team from Brooklyn Heights Engine 205, Ladder 118 used fresh herbs and olive oil to  flavor their wings.

((Jeannie Choi for WNYC))

Lieutenant Brian O'Sullivan (left) said that when head chef Jimmy Carino (right) cooks for the firehouse, it's always a treat. Carino cooked his way through college in restaurant kitchens before becoming a firefighter and has always had a talent for cooking.

((Jeannie Choi for WNYC))

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz carefully judged the different types of barbecue chicken cooked by the four teams of firefighters.

((Jeannie Choi for WNYC))

The final barbecue category was ribs. The smell was intoxicating, as marinated ribs quickly smoked on the grills placed along the patio deck at Fairway Market.

((Jeannie Choi for WNYC))

Finally, after three heated rounds of competition and a little good-natured ribbing between the teams, the judges tallied up the final scores. Though each team put in a heroic effort, only one team could win the title of best barbecue.

((Jeannie Choi for WNYC))

The judges announced the winning team: the Brooklyn Heights Hicks Street Engine 224. The winning team, whose head chef was Rob Scally, received a $500 gift card from Fairway, a donation to a charity of their choice and, of course, a gleaming trophy.

((Jeannie Choi for WNYC))
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