3RD ANNUAL GREAT IRISH STEW COOK-OFF ~ AOH'ERS IN A STEW
By Jeff Meade, Editor / Staff Writer, Irish Philadelphia - March 9th, 2007
There was something about Josh Landau's beef stew, Something different, something fragrant and herbal, something wonderful.
Of all the stews at the Ancient Order of Hibernian's Annual Stew Cook-Off, held last night at Finnegan's Wake, Landau's stood out. So I asked him what he put in his beef stew that made it so tasty.
Landau, the garde manger (sous-chef) at Colleen's at 22nd and the Parkway, wasn't giving away many secrets about his stew. (Neither was anyone else.) But for the benefit of gastronomic idiots like me, Landau was perfectly willing to share just one secret.
"It's lamb," he said. "There's no beef in it."
Oh.
But I don't like lamb, do I?
Well, not until last night, anyway. Seems everyone else knew it was lamb, but my past experience with cooked sheep has been that it tastes more or less like s live sheep smells.
Ah, but I was in the hands of a master. And the judges---amazingly, they were able to tell the difference between a cow and a sheep---concurred with my amateur assessment and awarded
Landau first prize.
Landau said he worked hard to tame the usual "gaminess" of the lamb in his stew. How? His lips are sealed. "A little bit of fresh rosemary and thyme," he acknowledged, not very helpfully. "And garlic... what's food without garlic?"
The recipe has been in his family, Landau said (A family that includes the actor Martin Landau, Josh's uncle.) I just changed it a bit to suit my own palette," he said.
The victory was especially grand for Landau, who was competing in the event for the first time. He'd also never made Irish stew before.
Taking second was another first-time contender, the team from the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 1 (Center City). Representing the division were Ann Marie Parkinson and Kathy Higgins. They had toyed going with a lamb-based recipe. The only other contender using that ingredient was Phil Bowdren of AOH Division 51 (Fishtown). "We were thinking about it right up until this morning," said Ann Marie, "but at the last moment, we changed our minds."
The division had a little help from the Red Rooster Inn in Northeast Philadelphia. "It's their recipe and mine that we mix together, Ann Marie said. "I started with theirs, and then I added in some family secrets."
Winner of third place was Paddy's Well.
The event is one of the showcase fund-raisers of the Hibernian Hunger Project. Proceeds go to groups like "Aid For Friends", which provide meals for those in need.
GREAT IRISH STEW COOK-OFF WINNERS / PARTICIPANTS
1ST (2004)
- Restaurant Category – The Plough and the Stars (Olde City)
- Amateur Category – Jude Fanning, AOH Division 39
- Other Participants - The New Deck Tavern, McKenna's, The Irish Pub, Finnigan's Wake and Chef Ted
2ND (2006)
- Restaurant Category – McFadden’s Restaurant (Olde City)
- Amateur Category – Phil Bowdren, AOH Division 51
- Other Participants - Kathy Blair - LAOH Division 17, Jude Fanning - AOH Division 39, Mary Ellen Giannetti - LAOH Division 39, Laura Kelly - LAOH Division 51, Betty Ann Whartenby - LAOH Division 87, Debbie Kinkaid, Finnegan's Wake, Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Bar, and The Blue Plate Restaurant
3RD (2007)
- 1st Prize - Josh Landau / Colleen's Restaurant
- 2nd Prize - Ann Marie Parkinson & Kathy Higgins - LAOH Division 1 / Red Rooster Inn
- 3rd Prize - Paddy's Well Restaurant
- Other Participants - Kathy Blair - LAOH Division 17, Phil Bowdren - AOH Division 51, and Finnegan's Wake
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