Jon Bon Jovi Comes to Chili Cook-Off in Red Bank
JBJ's Soul Kitchen in Red Bank held a wonderful salute to first responders in Monmouth and Ocean Counties with a friendly -- and competitive -- chili cook-off. Check out the pictures and winners!
Lou Morreale, General Manager of JBJ Soul Kitchen, invited us to the annual SK Chili Cook-Off and it turned out to be a great day for everyone who attended!
The friendly competition between the fire departments, EMTs, and police departments was classic. And these guys can COOK!
That, plus Jon Bon Jovi, his wife Dorothea, and Jon's dad Mr. B. all being there enjoying the day just made it feel like a wonderful family bbq -- the perfect fall day out with friends.
When Jon walked around taking his own photos of all the first responders and really giving everyone there some time and attention and love (he had a conversation with my son about guitars!!!) you could just see the pride of the crews that work so hard to protect us all.
Jon gave a
wonderful, simple speech thanking all of the first responders for the hard work they do, and then announced all the winners (and as someone who had to vote, I can tell you it was a TOUGH choice because all of the food was incredible!)
Here are the winners, and, as Jon said "It's difficult to judge one man's chili over another's":
4th place: Atlantic Highlands First Aid Department
3rd place: MONOC EMS workers
2nd place: Toms River Police Department
1st place (second year in a row): Union Beach Fire Department
There was also a separate category for the first responders who had the most support for their house, and that went to the Red Bank Fire Department, who brought in the most people.
Thank you to all of those who came out to cook, to volunteer, and to buy tickets to come taste the chili for this great event and in support of a wonderful community restaurant that serves meals to those who otherwise might not be able to afford them.
If you haven't yet had a meal at the JBJ Soul Foundation's Soul Kitchen, you really should get over there. Incredible food, incredible cause.