First Ever HGAR Cook-Off Event Raises Over $10K for RPAC

BRIARCLIFF MANOR—The savory aroma of old-fashioned home cooking filled the air, while a line of silver serving trays overflowed with piping hot, delectable selections of meatballs and chili at The Briarcliff Manor recently. HGAR’s first ever “Chili-Meatball Cookoff,” planned by the association’s RPAC Committee, brought in more than 60 hungry participants and raised more than $10,000 for RPAC, the Realtors Political Action Committee.

Almost 20 HGAR Realtors and Affiliate Members created their favorite recipes to compete in the contest, judged by a panel of four event sponsors: Mark Aakjar of Mark’s Inspections, Donald Arace of Hudson United Mortgage, Brett Lando of Gahagan & Lando, LLP and Andrew Wuench of Empire Inspectors.

The “Chili-Meatball Cookoff” judges: Carol Christiansen, HGAR RPAC Co-Chair; Mark Aakjar; Brett Lando; Andrew Wuench; Donald Arace, and Anthony Domathoti, HGAR RPAC Co-Chair.

A total of six contestants made the cut with Roseann Paggiotta of Houlihan Lawrence selected as the first-place winner for meatballs, and Jenifer Moore, also of Houlihan Lawrence, took first place for chili. Danielle Reese of Keller Williams and Irene Guanill of Century 21 Dawn Gold Realty claimed the second and third place meatball winners, while Leah Caro of Park Sterling Realty and Tony D’Anzica of Dynamax Realty took the second and third placements for their chili recipes.

Addition meatball cooks included Carol Christiansen, Anthony Domathoti, Crystal Hawkins-Syska, John Dolgetta, Phil Risi, Terri Crozier, and Marianne LePore. Chili dishes were also prepared by Elisa Bruno-Midili, Sarah Hughes, Wasfiyah Talib, Alicia Albano, Jennifer Maher, and Clayton Livingston.

Mark Seiden of Mark Seiden Realty presented a $5,000 challenge with a $5,000 match from his office.