USA: Ahmadiyya food voted best at CAADC 4th annual Save Our Shelter fundraiser

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The winning chef, Saadat Abdullah, of Ahmadiyya, rested on his 10 years experience cooking for the homeless shelter for his winning menu...

Photo via Twitter: @PhillyMosque

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Delaware County Daily Times
By Linda Reilly | April 30, 2015

Curry and spicy foods prepared by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, of Philadelphia, was voted the best of five dinner selections served up at the Community Action Agency of Delaware County’s 4th annual Save Our Shelter fundraiser.

Chefs and servers from Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Lima United Methodist Church, Lima, Temple Lutheran Church of Havertown, and Messiah Lutheran Church and St. Anastasia Roman Catholic Church, both of Newtown Square, recently participated to gain bragging rights for their cooking.

“This was a good turnout,” CAADC Chief Executive Officer Edward Coleman said of the 300-plus people on hand. “It’s a great event and it’s all done by volunteers.”

According to Coleman, the event was to raise money because of a $50,000 deficit in funding to support the three homeless shelters in the county — Wesley House and Family Management Center in Chester and the Life Center of Delaware County in Upper Darby. The homeless shelters are involved in feeding 200 individuals each night 365 days a year.

“Funding for the shelters were cut again, and again the need has increased and the gap gets bigger and bigger,” Coleman said.

Ann Shiffer and Stephanie Abbott, co-chaired the Save Our Shelter Top Shelter Chef Contest, which was emceed by police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.

Proceeds from the event exceeded last year’s $13,000 tally by $2,000 for a total of $15,000.

“Every year they raise the bar,” Coleman said.

CAADC received a notice of the unexpected windfall when Messiah Pastor Bruce Davis, whose church is closing, made a special announcement to donate an estimated $50,000 to the agency for the shelters and to settle the accounts.

The winning chef, Saadat Abdullah, of Ahmadiyya, rested on his 10 years experience cooking for the homeless shelter for his winning menu comprised of Chicken Tikka Masala, with heavy cream and curry, beefy meatballs with a special lentil bean sauce, rice with vegetables, sweet rice and naan.

“I am not concerned to win,” Abdullah said. “I just like to feed people. We believe love for all, hatred for none.”

A close second place by two votes was St. Anastasia’s Chicken Anastasia with sides of broccoli and rice prepared by chef Blaine Jeous and teen volunteers.

“It’s a nice springtime dinner,” Jeous said. “It’s a cost-effective dish that we could serve at the Life Center. This dish was cooked with the youthful enthusiasm of the girls softball team. They cooked it right before we brought it here. It doesn’t matter who wins. It’s the sharing that’s making me a winner.”

Bill DeFulvio, of Lima Methodist, served up Bill’s Famous Fire Company Chili, named because the fire company came over to the church while they were stirring up the dish.

“They liked it and I have cooked it before for the Life Center,” DeFulvio said. “It’s made with all good ingredients, lots of vegetables, lots of onions and lots of beans. I will consider it a winner if we make a lot of money.”

Temple Lutheran’s spokesperson Kevin Rieck prepared some of the dishes they serve at the annual Oktoberfest, including fresh string beans, fried macaroni and cheese balls and sage meat loaf with apple cider gravy.

“We put a lot of love in this meal,” Rieck said. “Food makes people happy.”

A summertime menu filled the steamers at Messiah Lutheran’s table and featured cheeseburger casserole, string beans, corn, rolls and donuts.

“We’ve got stiff competition,” Dave Smith of Messiah said. “This dish has been one we’ve been successful with for 15 years feeding the homeless in 69th Street.”


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