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2025 MEN WHO COOK Winners

ENTRÉE CATEGORY

Guinness Tenderloin with Bacon Jam – Mokena Police Dept. - Jason Louthan & Sarah McCarthy
Quesabirria – Distinct Visual Solutions – Bernie Avila & Alex Garcia
Poor Man’s Burnt Ends - Jungles for Sheriff – Dan Jungles & RJ Austin

Best Entrée Display: Mokena Police Dept. - Jason Louthan & Sarah McCarthy

PROFESSIONAL/COMMERCIAL CATEGORY

Legendary Beef Roll – Roc City Bar & Grill – Tommy “Z” Zoretic & Kevin Batus
Maryland Crab Cake w/ Lobster Sauce & Butterflied Shrimp Garnish – Silver Cross Hospital – Mike Stephans & Beth Pickering
Blackened Steak Tenderloin Bites – The Grill – Miguel Villarreal

Best Professional/Commercial Display: Silver Cross Hospital - Mike Stephans & Beth Pickering

SIDE DISH CATEGORY

Monster Mashed Potatoes – First Secure Community Bank - Mike Rittof & Jay Bergman
Loaded Mac N Cheese – Mokena Miracles – Jeff Kowalczyk
King's Kabooms - Lockport Police Dept – Jake King & Jason Miller

Best Side Dish Display: Elwood Police Department – Ken Jaburek & Kendy Elberson

APPETIZER CATEGORY

Zesty Meatballs – Plainfield Police Dept. – Ron Mikos & Cody Columbus
Smoked Pulled Pork Queso – Mokena Police Dept. – Tony Mavrogiannis & Nick Podgorny
PJ’s Pulled Pork - Will County Sheriff’s Office – Patrick Jones & Maurice Horn

Best Appetizer Display: [TIE]

Mokena Police Dept – Tony Mavrogiannis & Nick Podgorny
Will County Regional Office of Education – Paul Preuss

DESSERT CATEGORY

Caramel Shortbread Bites – CITGO Lemont Refinery - Raymond Boutte’ & Dwayne Boutte’
Tiramisu - Manhattan Police Dept. - Ryan Gulli & Joe Cas
Strawberry Shortcake – Anderson Tucker

Best Dessert Category Display: Channahon Police Dept. - Adam Bogart & Matt Brooks

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ENTREE' Category

Pulled Pork Sliders w/ Burnt Ends - Bolingbrook Police Dept. - Jason Mitchem & Nick Higens
Smoked Baby Back Ribs - Will County Sheriff's Office - Dan Jungles & RJ Austin
Smoked Turkey w/ Wild Boar Stuffing & Cajun Gravy - Mokena Police Dept. - Jason Louthan & Sarah McCarthy

APPETIZER Category

Neyhart Nuggies - Lockport Police Dept. - John Arizzi & Chris Neyhart
Smoked Queso w/ Homemade Tortilla Chip - Plainfield Police Dept. - Chris Allen & Cody Columbus
Carnitas Nachos - Distinct Visual Solutions - Bernie Avila, Cesar Cardenas & Paul Reyes

SIDE DISH Category

Monster Mash Potatoes - First Secure Community Bank - Mike Rittof & Jay Bergman
Loaded Baked Potato Soup - The Dowding Family
Bahn Mi Mites - ACB Mortgage Group - Kris Cheranichit & Bryn

DESSERT Category

Assorted Themed Truffles - Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino Tarrant - Facilities Dept. - Garrett Latham & Shields
S'More of What - Channahon Police Dept. - John Blough & Ethan Anderson
Cherry Cheese Poppies - Crest Hill Police Dept. - Joel Steen & David Reavis

PROFESSIONAL/COMMERCIAL CATEGORY

Creamy Shrimp & Lobster Newburg in a Pastry Cup - Silver Cross Hospital - Michael Stephans & Peter Martin
Cinnamon Sugar Soft Pretzel Bites - Joliet Central H.S. Culinary Program - Tom Langley & Amanda Ashmus
Pierogi - Judge Art Smigielski & Delight Wish European Restaurant - Paul Adamczyk & Judge Art Smigielski

DISPLAY/PRESENTATION

"Sandlot" - Channahon Police Dept.
"Grandma's Recipe" - Crest Hill Police Dept.
"Fall Theme" - Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino Tarrant - Facilities Dept.

2023 MEN WHO COOK- Oct. 21, 2023

2023 WINNERS

APPETIZER

MEXICAN CORN IN A CUP ON A CHIP: Distinct Visual Solutions - Bernie Avila, Cesar Cardenas & Paul Reyes-
MINI GYRO: Shorewood Police Dept.
ITALIAN MEATBALLS: Will County Board Member Mark Revis - Dist. 8 Plainfield

SIDE DISH

MONSTER MASH POTATOES: First Secure Bank - Mike Rittof & Jay Bergman
SOUTHERN STYLE GRAPE SALAD: Manhattan Police Chief Jeff Wold
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE: Mokena Police Dept. - Owen Price

ENTREE

WESTERN BITES II: Will County Sheriff's Dept.
SMOKED PULLED PORK SANDWICH: Bolingbrook Police Dept. - Jason Mitchem & Pete Moranda
SHORT RIB GNOCCHI: Mokena Police Dept. - Jason Louthan

DESSERT

MINI PUMPKIN TREAT: Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino Tarrant - FACILITIES DEPT.
DEMS BUNS DOUGH CINNAMON ROLLS: Andrew Dowding Family
CASHEW CARAMEL SHORTBREAD BARS: Ray Boutte' CITGO Lemont Refinery

PROFESSIONAL

MARINATED GRILLED PORK TENDERLOIN w/ TROPICAL SLAW - Michael Stephans, Silver Cross Hospital
LOBSTER BITES w/ TRUFFLE MASHED POTATOES - Rick Jerding, West End Tool & Die, All American Recycling

DISPLAY/THEME

Shorewood Police Dept w/ Chief Arnold
Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino Tarrant - FACILITIES DEPT.
Lockport Police Dept. - Chris Neyhart

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MEN WHO COOK 2022

2022 APPETIZER WINNERS:

Paul Retzke & Kevin Frazier Shorewood Police Department (Shorewood Smoked Shotgun Shell)
John Arizzi & Chris Neyhart Lockport Police Department (Neyhart Nibblers)
David Reavis Jr. & Jason Opiola Crest Hill Police Department (BLT Dip)

2022 DESSERT WINNERS:

Bob Fox & Daisy Fox Omega Plumbing (Bread Pudding w/ Bourbon Cream Sauce)
Andrew Dowding & Aidan Krier (Grandma D’s Cookie Bars)
Scott Gryder & Marty Shanahan (Homemade Ice Cream)

2022 SIDE DISH WINNERS:

Mike Rittof & Jay Bergman First Secure Community Bank/First Secure Bank - Joliet (Monster Mashed Potatoes)
Mike Ryan & Dominic Thielmann Romeoville Police Department (Elotes-Mexican Corn)
Bruce Grahm & Mary Grahm Will County Sheriff FOP Lodge #94 (Buffalo Mac ‘ N Cheese)

2022 PROFESSIONAL/
COMMERCIAL CHEFS:

Michael Stephans & Peter Martin Silver Cross Hospital (Shrimp Etouffee)
Rick Jerding & Matt Eilers - West End Tool and Die/All American Recycling (Duck Carnitas)
Eduardo Nepomuceno & Carlo Villagracia Edrolls Filipino Fusion (Eggrolls)

2022 ENTREE WINNERS:

Shaun Moran & Vinnie DiSalvo - Will County Sheriff's Office (Investigators Surprise)
Louis Manzella & Andy Hensel (Mississippi Poh Boy Sliders)
Charles Pelkie Lauren Staley Ferry Will County Clerk (Chinese Triple Pepper Beef)

2022 DISPLAY WINNER:
Daniel Crane - "Stranger Things" Theme

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MEN WHO COOK 2019 VIDEO

Red Carpet Interviews by WJOL's Lynne, Mary & Natalie
Cook Interviews by Joliet City Councilwoman Jan Quillman and WJOL's Kevin Kollins
Special THANK YOU to JCTV's Dick & Millie Schuster for filming and editing!

Past Photos/Videos

MEN WHO COOK 2019 WINNERS

APPETIZER

Meatball Stuffed Arancini - Jonathan Zambrano, Renova Bodyworks
Specialty Seasoned Pretzels & Cheese Dip – Crest Hill Police Dept. with Joel Steen
Smoked Salmon – Dan Pohrte

SIDE DISH

Chipotle Bacon Mac & Cheese – Bob Fox of OMEGA Plumbing
Pork Bao – Kris Cheranichit and Steve Golub
QuesaGRUNDYllas– Jeff Brown of Will County State’s Attorney’s Office

ENTRÉE

Bacon-Wrapped Smoked Meatloaf (w/ Mashed Potatoes & Gravy) – Shorewood Police Dept. with Paul Hulbert & Jason Barten
“Da-Sausage” – Channahon Police Department, and Mahoney, Silverman & Cross Law Firm
Caribbean Pork Tenderloin w/ Peach Chutney – Joe Garbin of Garbin Insurance

DESSERT

Butterscotch Butterfinger Delight – Joliet Fire Department with Nate Kren, Chris Kinsella & Eric Mattson
Assorted Cupcakes - Patrick Marcum & Brett Marcum – Glen Marcum Foundation
Nutella Marshmallow Sandwich - Daniel Crane – Autobarn Volkswagen of Countryside

PROFESSIONAL/COMMERCIAL

Lobster Roll– Peter Martin of Silver Cross Hospital
Chipolte Mashed Potato w/ Shredded Beef, Tequila Horseradish & Corona Shrimp on a Plantain Chip w/ Avocado Sauce & Mango Salsa– Thomas Moreno of The Blue Taco/United Way of Will County
Mini Pulled Pork Sandwiches – Marzell Richardson of Richardson’s Catering