CHILI COOK-OFF JUDGES
Chef Earl R. Arrowood, Jr.
Chef Earl has over 40 years of hospitality industry and culinary experience. Currently he is the Program Coordinator of Chef Apprenticeship and Culinary Arts Programs at Bucks County Community College, Newtown, PA. He is a Certified Chef d’ Cuisine, Certified Culinary Educator, and Member of the American Academy of Chefs – A.C.F.
He has been a judge for the Kansas City Barbeque Society and joins the Chili Cook-Off judging team for the seventh year.
Gabe Bond, General Manager, Porterhouse Restaurant & Brew Pub
Gabe has been the General Manager at the Porterhouse Restaurant & Brew Pub in Lahaska, Pa, for the past five years. Porterhouse Restaurant & Brew Pub is a previous four time People’s Choice Award winner of the Chili Cook-Off. Gabe’s local restaurant experience is not limited to Porterhouse; he has been a fixture in Peddler’s Village for many years for both Jenny’s Bistro and previous chili cook-cook regular, The Spotted Hog. This will be Gabe’s second appearance as a judge for the cook-off.
Gabe has no formal kitchen training, but he is a self proclaimed “foodie”. He enjoys entertaining and cooking for his friends and family. He considers himself to be an expert amateur grill guy at picnics. Gabe is the first to admit, he is a big guy who armed with a pretty good palate knows what tastes good.
This will be Gabe’s second year as a judge at the Chili Cook-Off. He wanted to represent for his restaurant, Porterhouse, even though they will not be competing this year, they remain a long time favorite with our chili cook-off crowd. For more information about Porterhouse, please visit their web site at www.porterhousepub.com.
David Mergen, Chef/Owner JustFood
Chef Mergen has been perfecting his culinary skills locally since the late 80’s. After years of running many of the areas kitchens, this CIA graduate decided to work without a menu in 2003. He now owns JustFood, a gourmet food emporium with locations in Buckingham Green and Ambler. The stores offer Custom Catering and a huge variety of Fresh prepared entrees, salads; side dishes & desserts for take out. Their selections are different every day & custom menus for each catered event are written exclusively by Dave for more information visit his website at www.justfoodcatering.com. This is Dave’s fifth time judging our Chili Cook off.
Geri Delevich
Geri is a life long resident of Bucks County, having spent the last thirty - three years, enjoying living in New Hope. She has served on the Borough Council for the past eleven years and is the Chairperson of Community Affairs. She was the 2006 Lambertville-New Hope Rotary Club Citizen of the Year.
After spending thirty-three years as an elementary school teacher in the Central Bucks School District, Geri retired to seek new challenges. She is the driving force behind Up River Productions, Inc. and the Embraceable You Project. The project has evolved into a documentary, a book and a CD. All three components focus on the embracing qualities of the New Hope community.
The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce presented Up River Productions and Embraceable You with the Community Award for 2009. Additional information about Embraceable You can be found at: www.up-river-productions.com.
For those of you who are unaware, Geri does have culinary experience, while attending Bucks County Community College; she was a short order cook for the college and spent her summers in the window of Johnson’s Ice Cream and Candy Shop on the boardwalk at Ocean City. She was a chocolatier, whose job it was to hand dip the chocolates and make non- pareils. These days Geri loves when someone else is doing the cooking. This will be Geri’s third year as chili cook-off judge.
Chef Linda Jacobs
Linda Jacobs is the Chef/owner of Soup to Nuts Caterering in Washington Crossing, PA. Soup to Nuts is the 2009 Winner of the Bride’s Choice Award by Weddingwire.com, as well as the 2008 Inquirer’s Neighbor’s Choice Awards for Best Caterer in Bucks County.
Linda’s culinary career began when she graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. For many years she worked as a Chef at many fine dining restaurants on both the east and west coasts.
For more than ten years now, Linda has combined her classical training with Grandma’s homemade cooking to create Simple Elegance and traditional comfort foods. Soup to Nuts offers home entertaining, weddings, special festivities, corporate catering and more. For more information visit her web site at www.souptonutscuisine.com. This will be Linda’s third year as a judge for the chili cook-off.
Janet McLaughlin
Janet McLaughlin has been a Commissioner on the Ewing Township Redevelopment Agency for the past twelve years as well as serving on Ewing Township Site Review Committee for eight years. She enjoys cooking classes at local colleges and entertaining at home. Mrs. McLaughlin is a seasoned veteran chili cook-off judge, 2010 will be her seventh time.
Chef Thomas C. Schmierer
Thomas Schmierer has been working in the restaurant industry for thirty nine years. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for The New Jersey Restaurant Association, having served for the past ten years. He also serves on the New Jersey Alcoholic Beverage Control Advisory Board, The NJ Department of Health, Senior Services Advisory Board as well as the NJ Produce Safety Task Force for the NJ Department of Agriculture. He is also a certified instructor for both ServSafe Food and ServSafe Alcohol. He owned and operated the Alchemist & Barrister Restaurant located in Princeton, NJ for twenty nine years. He began his career at the restaurant as the Executive Chef before becoming the General Manager/Owner. This will be Thomas’ second year as a judge for the Chili Cook-Off; however, he and his family have been fans and attendees for years.
