Fire Station Specialties to be Served Saturday at Cooking for a Cure

Upstairs in the fire station, two days before the Cooking for a Cure MDA extravaganza, veteran Marblehead firefighter Tim Doane ribs a relative newbie about his culinary skills.

There's a reason he washes dishes after fire house dinners, Tim tells Jeff Martin, whose cooking repertoire gets about as sophisticated as hot dogs and beans.

That dish is low on the ladder in a department whose cooks turn out tasty delights such as Captain Porter's homemade shrimp scampi pizza; Tom Rice's roasted Brussels sprouts with a reduced balsamic sauce; and Tim's pulled chicken enchiladas.

Just Friday Tim's group had spicy tomato mussels and shrimp over linguine for dinner.

These are the kinds of specialties diners will feast on Saturday at the 5th annual Cooking for a Cure benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Danvers at the Danversport Yacht Club, 116 Elliott St.

Fifteen fire departments will prepare at least two of their specialties including a dish — brisket sliders and homemade beans — by the mighty Anthony Pierro of the Swampscott Fire Department.

That's at least 30 selections in a horseshoe-shaped line that starts serving at 7 p.m. Over 600 people are expected.

Doors open at 6, and the cost is $30. All you can eat. The event is being hosted by the Marblehead Firefighters Local 2043.

Not only does each department bring some of its best dishes to the event, but it is a judged competition, so the departments are cooking for bragging rights.

Marblehead won the very first Cooking for a Cure. Swampscott won the second and third years. And Melrose won last year with a lobster macaroni and cheese.

Here at the kitchen table upstairs at Headquarters Fire Station in Marblehead, event organizers Tim Doane and Jeff Martin — he's the department's MDA representative — say food and dinners play a pivotal role in fire house culture.

Behind the kitchen table, light streams through a window shining on hanging pots and pans. They are sturdy and seasoned, their bottoms darkened from use. The casement window could be a window in your home's kitchen.

Firefighters spend a lot of time together, on duty 24/7, and the station is their home away from home.

Jeff says they sometimes eat three meals around this very table in the course of a day — breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Saturday's meal is a chance for a bunch of departments to get together and serve the public for a good cause.

Tickets are available at the door. For more information about the event visit the Cooking for a Cure Facebook page.