Post by Jared Lorenzen on Apr 12, 2007 3:26:20 GMT -5
Hey guys, old news, but still worth noting. Jared Lorenzen receives a perfect score to beat all challengers and retain his title as the GREATEST PERSON ON EARTH.
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Giants Players Show Off Culinary Skills at the Fourth Annual Cook-Off Event
By Emily Ryan
October 16, 2006
Jared Lorenzen and Chase Blackburn, team “Cordon Blue,” dressed in matching baby blue polos, khaki shorts, and sandals, showed up to the ESPN Zone on Tuesday, October 10 for the fourth annual Giants Cook-Off event. While Lorenzen looked to defend last year's first place win, Blackburn simply hoped to improve upon his third place finish. They knew it would not be a cake walk with intense competition waiting from Frank Walker, Gerrick McPhearson, Na’Shan Goddard, Darcy Johnson, and Director of Player Development Charles Way, all hoping to walk away with the “W.”
Giants rookie WR Michael Jennings judges CB Frank Walker's cooking skills in the 4th Annual Cook-Off Event.
The players were paired with a chef from ESPN Zone and set up at individual stations. Each cooking station was stacked with chicken, swordfish and salmon as well as a variety of fruits, vegetables, and spices. The teams were required to make an appetizer, entrée and dessert to be graded on presentation and taste by the judges. The judges included Dana Jacobson from ESPN’s Cold Pizza, FHM Editors Sam Barclay and Michael Dolan, and the Giant’s very own Michael Jennings. While the players were given suggested recipes for each course, it became clear from the beginning that they were all banking on their own creativity to win over the panel.
Paul Dottino, from ESPN Radio 1050, provided color commentary as the players began their 30 minutes of cooking. The taunting began immediately as they questioned each other’s ability from sautéing vegetables to grilling swordfish. Once the thirty minutes was up, Lorenzen and Blackburn were picked to present their meals first, followed by Goddard and Johnson, and McPhearson. Walker, picked to present 4th had secretly worked on an additional way to win over the judges as the clock began to wind down. Seconds before he brought his appetizers to the table, the judges were presented with wine glasses and a bottle of the Zone’s finest Merlot. Instantly there were yells about “cheating” and “playing dirty” from the previous presenters. These chants only continued as Way, the final presenter, also brought wine, and to really top it off, coffee with the dessert.
Once all the food had been tested, and seemingly every trick had been used to win the love of the judges, it was time to find out who won. Little did everyone know Jared and Chase had yet to bring out their final (and best) presentation. Way received a score of 33 which eventually landed him in last place and a book on “Cooking for dummies.” Gerrick McPhearson was next in line with a score of 34 and Goddard and Johnson took third with a final of 37. Walker’s score of 39 looked impossible to beat until Lorenzen brought out the secret weapon of team “Cordon Blue,” his two-year old daughter. While carrying his smiling daughter, the quarterback and linebacker stood in front of the judges giving them no choice but to give a perfect score of 40.
It took more than pure cooking skills to win Tuesday's competition. It took creativity and ultimately the grin of an adorable child to steal first place. Team “Cordon Blue” has won bragging rights until next year’s competitors devise a different route to the judges’ hearts.
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Giants Players Show Off Culinary Skills at the Fourth Annual Cook-Off Event
By Emily Ryan
October 16, 2006
Jared Lorenzen and Chase Blackburn, team “Cordon Blue,” dressed in matching baby blue polos, khaki shorts, and sandals, showed up to the ESPN Zone on Tuesday, October 10 for the fourth annual Giants Cook-Off event. While Lorenzen looked to defend last year's first place win, Blackburn simply hoped to improve upon his third place finish. They knew it would not be a cake walk with intense competition waiting from Frank Walker, Gerrick McPhearson, Na’Shan Goddard, Darcy Johnson, and Director of Player Development Charles Way, all hoping to walk away with the “W.”
Giants rookie WR Michael Jennings judges CB Frank Walker's cooking skills in the 4th Annual Cook-Off Event.
The players were paired with a chef from ESPN Zone and set up at individual stations. Each cooking station was stacked with chicken, swordfish and salmon as well as a variety of fruits, vegetables, and spices. The teams were required to make an appetizer, entrée and dessert to be graded on presentation and taste by the judges. The judges included Dana Jacobson from ESPN’s Cold Pizza, FHM Editors Sam Barclay and Michael Dolan, and the Giant’s very own Michael Jennings. While the players were given suggested recipes for each course, it became clear from the beginning that they were all banking on their own creativity to win over the panel.
Paul Dottino, from ESPN Radio 1050, provided color commentary as the players began their 30 minutes of cooking. The taunting began immediately as they questioned each other’s ability from sautéing vegetables to grilling swordfish. Once the thirty minutes was up, Lorenzen and Blackburn were picked to present their meals first, followed by Goddard and Johnson, and McPhearson. Walker, picked to present 4th had secretly worked on an additional way to win over the judges as the clock began to wind down. Seconds before he brought his appetizers to the table, the judges were presented with wine glasses and a bottle of the Zone’s finest Merlot. Instantly there were yells about “cheating” and “playing dirty” from the previous presenters. These chants only continued as Way, the final presenter, also brought wine, and to really top it off, coffee with the dessert.
Once all the food had been tested, and seemingly every trick had been used to win the love of the judges, it was time to find out who won. Little did everyone know Jared and Chase had yet to bring out their final (and best) presentation. Way received a score of 33 which eventually landed him in last place and a book on “Cooking for dummies.” Gerrick McPhearson was next in line with a score of 34 and Goddard and Johnson took third with a final of 37. Walker’s score of 39 looked impossible to beat until Lorenzen brought out the secret weapon of team “Cordon Blue,” his two-year old daughter. While carrying his smiling daughter, the quarterback and linebacker stood in front of the judges giving them no choice but to give a perfect score of 40.
It took more than pure cooking skills to win Tuesday's competition. It took creativity and ultimately the grin of an adorable child to steal first place. Team “Cordon Blue” has won bragging rights until next year’s competitors devise a different route to the judges’ hearts.
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