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!

(Liz with Lou Morreale, GM of Soul Kitchen, photo by Benjamin)
(Liz with Lou Morreale, GM of Soul Kitchen, photo by Benjamin)
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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.

(Photo by Maureen Keane)
(Photo by Maureen Keane) Jon with his dad Mr. B.
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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

(Jon and Benjamin, photo by Mo Keane)
(Jon and Benjamin, photo by Mo Keane)
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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

(photo by liz jeressi)
(photo by liz jeressi) Dorothea with Union Beach winners
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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.

(Benjamin, Liz, and Mr. B., photo by Mo Keane)
(Benjamin, Liz, and Mr. B., photo by Mo Keane)
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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.

(Liz with SK volunteer Maureen Keane, photo from Mo Keane)
(Liz with SK volunteer Maureen Keane, photo from Mo Keane)
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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.

(Toms River Police chili table, photo by Mo Keane)
(Toms River Police chili table, photo by Mo Keane) PJ Gambardella, Jesse Robertazzi, Liz, and PJ's fiance Melissa Barbarow.
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(The MONOC chili table, photo by liz jeressi)
(The MONOC chili table, photo by liz jeressi)
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(photo by liz jeressi)
(photo by liz jeressi)
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