Firehouse Kitchen's Ray Cooney to Judge America's Best Firehouse Chili Contest

On Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at The New York City Fire Museum, Retired FDNY Firefighter and host of the television show, Firehouse Kitchen, will be deciding who makes America's Best FireHouse Chili.

Nothing elicits a sense of pride at fire stations across the country quite like a firehouse kitchen that produces quality eats, especially chili. That's why the makers of HORMEL Chili are working to highlight the underappreciated cooking talents of firefighters everywhere, while also giving firehouses across the country a chance to win $10,000.

Teaming up with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), the makers of HORMEL Chili conducted the "America's Best Firehouse Chili Contest" over a three-month period to discover the best firehouse chili recipe in America. Firefighters were encouraged to submit their best chili recipe to Hormel's Facebook page for judging. Host of the cooking show "Firehouse Kitchen" and retired FDNY firefighter, Ray Cooney, has been judging entries and narrowing the field down to the top 10. From there, consumers voted on their favorite recipes through the contest website to determine the three finalists, Jeremy Chauvin- Edgard, LA - St. John the Baptist Parish Fire Service, Station 65, Andrew Dresher- Hershey, PA - Union Deposit Volunteer Fire Company 47 and Craig Weinbaum - Naples, FL - Greater Naples Fire and Rescue District - Station 21. Those finalists will be flown to New York City to compete in a live chili cook-off for a chance to win $10,000 for their station. Judging of recipes will be based on originality, potential of flavor (flavor profile) and inspiration behind each recipe submission.

To conclude the competition, the makers of HORMEL Chili will be presenting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation with a donation of $20,000. The grand prize-winning station will receive $10,000, as well as chili to stock their kitchen. Second and third place winners will each receive $2,500 for their station, along with chili for their kitchens, as well.

About Firehouse Kitchen
This isn't your ordinary, cooking show. Each week, Retired FDNY FireFighter Ray Cooney, Host of Firehouse Kitchen visits firehouses across the country, sharing recipes and stories of heroism with local Firefighters. Ray has combined his love and passion for food and his fellow firefighters together in this series taking you into the lives of firefighters, their mastery of culinary arts and heroic lifestyle. One of the first ever cooking programs centered around the incredible food creations of the firefighter. With over 2+ million firefighters in America, the result is a brand new form of cooking entertainment. The creators of the show bring great food, fun and fire safety tips to the screen all in support of Friends of Firefighters, & local burn centers. Ray has appeared on several television shows including Fox and Friends, Good Day NY and the Dr. Oz show. Firehouse Kitchen airs across multiple platforms across the country. Check your local listing or check out firehousekitchenshow.com

For more information please visit firehousekitchenshow.com or on social at facebook/firehousekitchenshow

About Hormel Foods - Inspired People. InspiRed Food.
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenues across 75 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly Guacamole, Hormel Black Label and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the ninth year in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. In 2016, the company celebrated its 125th anniversary and announced its new vision for the future - Inspired People. InspiRed Food. - focusing on its legacy of innovation. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://2015csr.hormelfoods.com/.

About the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
The United States Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to lead a nationwide effort to remember America's fallen firefighters. Since 1992, the tax-exempt, nonprofit Foundation has developed and expanded programs to honor our fallen fire heroes and assist their families and co-workers. The Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. It is registered as a corporation in the State of Maryland. The Foundation receives funding through private donations from caring individuals, organizations, corporations, and foundations. A grant from the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance supports programs for survivors of fallen firefighters.

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