A Minneapolis firefighter is 'America's Hottest Firehouse Cook' for her 5-alarm dessert recipe that won her a cool $10,000 prize.
Tracy Moore, with Engine 5 at 2700 Bloomington Av. S., was crowned "America's Hottest Firehouse Cook" on Tuesday in the fifth national Tabasco Cook and Ladder Competition in New York City. The contest was sponsored by the makers of Tabasco sauce.
Moore whipped up her favorite recipe -- Mount Tabasco Chocolate Lava Cake -- to go tastebud-to-tastebud with nine other firefighters from around the country.
"When I heard my name announced as grand-prize winner, I literally jumped in the air," Moore said. "I'm so happy to have won for myself and for my firehouse. I look forward to sharing the $10,000 with them."
Moore said she will use her prize money to fund a Mount Kilimanjaro climb. Her firehouse will vote on the best use of its share of the money. Ideas range from buying new workout equipment, to a fire hose-tester, to bird feeders for outside the station.
Second place and $5,000 went to Laura Ketelhut with the Fond du Lac Fire Department in Wisconsin for her Smoky Chipotle Mac-n-Cheese.
Recipes were judged on the following criteria: originality and creativity, taste, use of one or more Tabasco pepper sauces, recipe clarity and presentation.
PAUL WALSH
