Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow invites you to attend the
16th Annual MEN WHO COOK presented by CITGO
fundraiser to support the Will County Children's Advocacy Center providing HOPE, HEALING, & JUSTICE for abused children.

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Joliet Junior College - Event Center
1215 Houbolt Rd, Joliet, IL

A fun and casual tasting event featuring 40+ amateur & professional/commercial cooks serving samples of their favorite
APPETIZER , SIDE-DISH, ENTREE & DESSERT for YOU to judge.

Raffles ● Cash Bar ● Kids Activities
$55/person ● $100/Couple
$20/Child (Ages 6-12) 5 & under free

Beverage Service By

2025 MEN WHO COOK Sponsors, Winners & Photos

2025 VIP Sponsors

VIP Presenting Sponsor

Media Sponsor

Bar Sponsor

VIP Superhero Sponsor

VIP Premier Sponsor

VIP Kids Corner Sponsor

VIP Partner Sponsor

VIP Kids Corner Sponsor

VIP Partner Sponsor

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

Event Sponsors

Iron Chef Sponsor

Sous Chef Sponsor

Justice Sponsor

2024 MEN WHO COOK Sponsors, Winners & Photos

2024 MEN WHO COOK WINNERS

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

VIP SPONSORS MAJOR SPONSORS EVENT SPONSORS

VIP SPONSORS

VIP PRESENTING SPONSOR

VIP SUPERHERO SPONSOR

VIP KIDS CORNER SPONSOR

VIP PARTNER SPONSOR

MAJOR SPONSORS

EVENT SPONSORS

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

VIP SPONSORS MAJOR SPONSORS SPONSORS

VIP SPONSORS

VIP PREMIER SPONSOR

VIP PARTNER SPONSOR

THE CZERKIES FAMILY - VIP PARTNER SPONSOR

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MAJOR SPONSORS

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