Port Washington residents were contenders in a cook-off and car show that was recently held at Cantiague Park.
Over a dozen barbeque teams competed against each other for cash prizes and the right to call themselves Grill Master. Harry Rubenau and Tony Currier from the Port Washington-based Road Runners, made cupcake chicken (chicken in a cupcake pan), smoke meatloaf and ribs with an apricot barbeque sauce. The team won second in ribs and first in chicken last year.
“But we just came out here today to have fun,” Rubenau said.
Many teams had their grills hot since 4 a.m., and for Rxcellent Que, the long day and hard work paid off.
Judges awarded the Rockville Center based team first in chicken and second in pork ribs. John and Celeste Umstadt submitted a standard BBQ chicken, long bone short ribs flavored with garlic, and pork ribs. The secret to their success?
“Hopefully they just loved the homemade sauces,” John said. “I guess they just liked it.”
At the same time, 200 cars in pristine condition, some dating back almost a century lined the parking lot at the park. They were all taking part in the Hicksville Fire Department Volunteer Hose Company Number Four’s Annual BBQ Cook Off and Car Show.
This was the show’s third year and proceeds from the cook off benefited the hose company, while proceeds from the car show went towards the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. Hicksville resident Nancy Magrini is a faithful attender of the event. As she sports a bright blue poodle skirt, while standing in the midst of antique cars, she’s a blast from the past.
“The whole event is about old cars and when you think about old cars you think about the 50s, 60s, and 70s. And in the 50s it was very big to wear poodle skirts,” Magrini says. “It’s fun dressing up.”
County Executive Ed Mangano presented John Spoitta with the County Executive’s Choice Award for best car. He’s had his 1967 indigo blue Cobra for three years.
“Everyone always loves the color,” Spoitta says. “It’s very close to the original car. I love everything about it.”
Event chairman Greg Doerflein says the Cook Off and Car Show was only made possibly because of the efforts of whole volunteer fire department. He worked closely with fellow volunteer fire fighters, including Brian Quinn (the cochairman of the event) and Sal Astuto.
“It’s a full blown company effort,” Doerflein said. “Everyone from the newest guy to the oldest guy is working to put this together.”
Doerflein says the company is already planning for next year’s event. His goal is that the Cook Off and Car Show will become a longstanding tradition.
