Officer Filippo Ferraino, and Officer Ferraino’s sister-in-law and niece. Not pictured are RUPD
Community Service Officers Brianna Padilla and Dorothy Hillaire who also assisted with the event.
Autumn is in the air, and what better time to enjoy a bowl of award-winning chili, and the Rutgers University Police Department-Newark dished up just that at the JBJ Soul Kitchen’s 9th Annual Jon Bon Jovi Chili Cook-Off.
The JBJ Soul Kitchen is a non-profit community restaurant established by the rock and roll legend and New Jersey native, Jon Bon Jovi under his Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. The restaurant serves both paying customers and those in need. Rutgers University-Newark is one of four JBJ Soul Kitchens in New Jersey. It is located in the Paul Robeson Campus Center.
The event, held this year on October 12, honors first responders and supports JBJ’s Soul Kitchen’s mission of addressing food insecurity. Entrants compete for the best chili title and the best table display. This year’s event sold out and was the biggest chili cook-off yet, with 13 departments competing for the title.
Buoyed by a second place win in last year’s chili competition and first place for their table display, RUPD returned this year ready to take the top spot in both categories.
The Rutgers team went with a fall theme for their table display, which included bales of hay, corn stalks, painted pumpkins, and mums. Officer Filippo Ferraino amazed the crowd with his famous chili, appropriately
named “Fil’s Fall Harvest Chili”. There was strong competition, with all the competitors bringing the heat, but RUPD came out on top, winning 1st Place for Best Chili and 1st Place for Best Table.
RUPD would like to thank the JBJ Soul Kitchen for putting on a great event with the utmost hospitality, as well as, Rutgers University-Newark Gourmet Dining Services for all their help.
Congratulations RUPD Newark!
Featured in the IP&O Newsletter, December 2024.
