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Contest shows best chili is at bagel shop
(by David Jimenez - July 02, 2008)
As far as chili-cook-offs go, this was a good beginning. The winner received bragging rights for a full year, while many of those who like chili had an opportunity to taste test six different styles before casting a vote for their favorite.
The food contest, part of a half-day health and wellness fair sponsored by Rockaway Borough’s Board of Health, was held at Morris Hills High School last month and demonstrated that by using lean meats and low sodium recipes, chili can still have a robust taste.
Area food establishments competed to create a “healthy and delicious chili product,” said Mark Caputo, health officer. The winner was chosen by public vote after free samples were distributed at random.
Bagelicious, located at Rt. 46 Franklin Plaza, won the contest with a chicken entrée. Alex Café, Café Amina, Paradiso Pizza, Schwinds Meat Market and The Exchange received honorable mention.
No stranger to cooking favorable foods, winner Joe Pourmoussavian, owner of Bagelicious, grew up in England before moving to the United States. He comes from a family of restaurateurs who specialized in Persian, Greek and Italian cuisines.
While Pourmoussavian, who is of Persian descent and likes to point out that his last name has fourteen letters, won’t divulge his winning recipe, he does however admit that the chicken chili, along with his beef and vegetarian style chili dishes, is offered periodically at his deli restaurant as specials throughout the year.
Feeling a special kinship with his customers, Pourmoussavian says that he only uses fresh products because “I treat all of my customers as if they were members of my family, so I can’t serve anyone greasy food.”
Whether there will be a second health fair next year remains to be seen. Caputo said that his office is still evaluating last month’s event to determine how effective it was in reaching out to locals and informing them of the types of medical services available to them.
Staff photo by David Jimenez
Joe Pourmoussavian and spouse Fafa, owners of Bagelicious, hold with pride the gold medal won for his chicken chili entrée at the borough’s chili cook-off contest.
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