January 22, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Asst. to the Fire Chief

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2411, page: 675-2137

Shreveport Firefighter Finalist In Tabasco’s National "Cook and Ladder" Contest

Local firefighter to face country’s best fire house cooks in New York City . . .

Shreveport Fire Department Captain Don Lawler was use to the men and women at the fire station rave about his cooking but had no idea it would garner national attention and land in him in a cook-off in New York City. The event sponsored by Tabasco Inc. of Louisiana challenges firefighters from across the country to come up with the best cuisine using their product. The firefighters at Lawler’s fire station first saw the advertisement for the contest on the Food network. At the encouragement of his crew, Lawler and another firefighter entered the contest and submitted their recipes. Lawler won a finalist slot and trip to New York City for a cook-off over hundreds of other entries.

Lawler’s winning entry was Chipotle Port Loin with Dirty Rice Stuffing, which consists of thinly sliced pork loin, rolled and filled with dirty rice. Lawler then adds a brown sugar, ginger and Tabasco marina. The dish is cooked in the oven for about one hour and left to stand for 5-10 minutes and served hot.

Lawler will be traveling to New York for the contest February 3. The cook-off will be at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000, of which Lawler says he will split with the firefighters at his station. For the complete recipe and cooking instructions, please visit the fire department’s web site at www.shrevportfire.org. ###