Salt Lake City firefighter Tony Stowe was one of 10 firefighters who competed last week in Tabasco's Cook & Ladder Competition in New York City.
His recipe, Tony's Tabasco Sesame Chicken, bested hundreds of entries from around the country to get him to the finals.
The $10,000 grand prize went to Rett Blankenship with the Dallas Fire Department in Texas, for his Southwest Glazed Rack of Lamb with Smoky Grits. He was crowned "America's Hottest Firehouse Cook."
Recipes were judged on the following criteria: originality and creativity, taste, recipe clarity and presentation. They also had to include at least one of the sponsor's six different Tabasco sauces.
Judges this year included Leroy Fernandez, the Park City firefighter who took home the grand prize in 2004, and restaurateur chef Mario Batali, who hosts "Malto Mario" on the Food Network.
TONY'S TABASCO SESAME CHICKEN
Marinade:
1/2 cup Tabasco soy sauce
1/4 cup Tabasco garlic pepper sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon horseradish sauce
4 cups water
1 dozen chicken drumsticks, skinned (approximately 3 1/2 to 4 pounds)
Mix soy sauce, garlic pepper sauce, sesame oil, horseradish sauce and water in a large bowl until smooth. Add drumsticks. Allow to marinate for at least an hour in the refrigerator.
Glaze:
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons Tabasco soy sauce
1/4 cup Tabasco garlic pepper sauce
1 tablespoon horseradish sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
Sesame seeds (used later in recipe)
Combine all ingredients except sesame seeds in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for approximately one minute on high, and then mix until smooth.
Grill chicken at 350 F (medium heat) for 25-30 minutes, or until juices run clear, flip or rotate frequently (being careful not to burn). Begin brushing glaze after 30 minutes. Flip or rotate chicken every 3-4 minutes. Brush glaze mixture on tops and sides of chicken after each rotation until mixture is gone. Be careful not to burn the glaze. On last two rotations, sprinkle chicken with sesame seeds to coat each side.
E-mail: vphillips@desnews.com