LASD-Century Sheriff's Station Captain, Joe Gooden, and LAPD-Southeast Division Captain, Phil Tingerides, faced off in a cook-off in front of about 100 hungry Watts residents to decide who the best cook is. The 1st annual “Watts Healthy Farmer’s Market Cook-Off” was held at Ted Watkins Park in South Los Angeles on Saturday, July 21st, sponsored in part by Kaiser Permanente. Los Angeles City Councilman Ken Buscaino and Congresswoman Laura Richardson were members of the four-person judging panel, judging the chef-to-chef challenge. The vegetarian bruschetta made by Sheriff's Captain Gooden, accompanied by his daughter and sous chef, competed against LAPD’s Captain Tingerides' grilled tuna and sautéed veggie medley. In the end, the judges got full, and it was just too close a call to make. The judges determined the 1st Place trophy would have to be shared by both Captains because the food was all too good to pick a clear victor. There were no leftovers.
