Montgomery Park residents support local 'iron chef'
by KIMBERLY M. KARCHER Clarence Editor

"Tim, Tim, he's our man. If he can't cook it, no one can!"

That was one of the chants that could be heard coming from the Montgomery Park cheering section during a recent "iron chef"-style cook-off held in Greece, N.Y.

More than 25 residents of the independent retirement community traveled together in early August to support their very own iron chef - Tim Hauser.

Hauser was selected to compete in the cook-off, which featured various chefs from the region, according to Kathylee Brewer, who co-manages Montgomery Park with her husband, Rick.

"It was a cook-off between a number of executive chefs from retirement facilities in the area," Brewer said. "We're so proud of all our residents and staff who came together to support Tim. It was a great event."

Brewer said the Montgomery Park community spent approximately two months preparing to cheer Hauser to victory by creating clever rhymes, cheers and even "costumes" to show their support.

"Once we knew our chef was going to participate we rallied together," Brewer said. "We practiced our cheers about three times a week, and the residents and staff made pompoms out of wooden spoons and put bells inside of cheese graters. It was great to see everyone come together."

During the competition each chef was given a basket of the same ingredients and had 45 minutes to create a dish. Some of the ingredients included a piece of salmon, a filet of beef and numerous herbs and spices.

Although Hauser did not take home the top prize, he did receive a certificate of participation and the admiration of those who enjoy his cooking skills on a regular basis at Montgomery Park.

"He's definitely the winner in our book," Brewer said.

The iron chef cooking competition was not affiliated with the Food Network show of the same name.

e-mail:kkarcher@beenews.com