HARRISBURG, PA — The sizzle of a culinary showdown filled the air as the 8th Annual Army vs. Navy Cook-Off took center stage on Military Appreciation Day at the 108th PA Farm Show. The event, a joint presentation by PA Preferred and Comcast NBCUniversal, saw culinary talents from the United States Army and Navy go spatula to spatula in an exciting “Iron Chef” style competition.
The cook-off celebrated active, reserve, and retired service members, showcasing the culinary prowess of CS3 Chassidy Chisholm from the United States Navy and SSG BreAuna Delpesche from the Army Executive Dining Facility (AREDF), United States Army. Adding flavor to the mix were local media personalities Ali Lanyon and Dan Tomaso from abc27, who teamed up with Delpesche, while Joe Calhoun and Christine Ferreira from WGAL Channel 8 joined Chisholm’s team.
A four-person panel of distinguished judges, including Barry Crumlich, Executive Chef at the PA Governor’s Residence; John Moeller, former White House Chef and author of “Dining at the White House – From the President’s Table to Yours”; Jason Rohrs, Special Command Aide Program Manager Office of the Commandant, United States Coast Guard; and Carlos Cuoto, Director, Comcast NBCUniversal Military and Veteran Affairs, had the challenging task of evaluating the final dishes.
After a heated competition, it was SSG BreAuna Delpesche and her team who claimed the coveted blue ribbon, proving that their culinary skills were as sharp as their military discipline.
The competition was not just a showcase of culinary talent but also a celebration of Pennsylvania’s homegrown produce. All ingredients used in the competition were proudly made or grown in Pennsylvania. Veteran farmers Paul MacNamara from St. Ann’s Cattle Company and David McCoy from Cedar Ridge Highlands generously donated wagyu beef and PA-grown garlic respectively for the event’s blind bins.
This annual tradition continues to be a highlight of the PA Farm Show, honoring our service members while celebrating local agriculture and culinary talent. We look forward to the next culinary showdown at the 9th Annual Army vs. Navy Cook-Off next year!
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