The results from this year’s Cooks With Collars are in: Two priests won top honors for their parishes, but it turns out that everyone was a winner.
In its third year, Cooks with Collars raised more than $300,000 for parishes thanks to thousands of parishioners who watched the cooking videos and voted for their favorite clerical-collared chefs.
The winners were:
- Father Robert George, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Summit Hill, who cooked two appetizers – manicotti shells stuffed with a local favorite, kielbasa salad, and buffalo chicken meatballs – and a creative cocktail, a “Manhattan with a twist.” As “Top Fundraising Chef,” he raised $49,065 for his parish.
- Father Dominic Pham, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Ringtown, and St. Joseph Parish, Sheppton, who delivered a steady stream of cooking and kitchen cleanup advice while expertly preparing fried rice with chicken. As “Top Party Chef,” which is determined by highest percentage of parish participation, Father Pham secured more votes than almost every other participating cook.
Over the course of a month or so, the 44 videos available at www.CooksWithCollars.com received more than 48,000 views from visitors across the Diocese and even from around the world. People “voted” with their contributions to each parish, while donations from program sponsors went to Catholic Charities.
This year’s sponsors included Anthony and Evelyn Carfagno, DesignIP, the Topper Foundation, Bennett Automotive Group, St. Lukes University Health Network, Bishop Photo, DeSales University, and OAA Orthopaedic Specialists.
As always, the dishes prepared by diocesan priests and their helpers covered a wide range, from appetizers to desserts, and from family favorites to fine dining fare. Many were cooked in rectories and parish kitchens around the five counties of the Diocese. Several priests did their presentations in Spanish.
The competition may be over, but the videos are still available to savor at: www.CooksWithCollars.com.
