'Chef Showdown' in Glen Cove + Recipie

Mayor Reggie Spinello head-to-head with a local chef at the Atria Glen Cove to see who could whip together the best dish involving watermelon.

Spinello, along with his culinary advisor and wife Colleen Spinello, prepared a Watermelon Feta Bruschetta.

However, Atria’s Assistant Director of Culinary Services Maria Chiaramonte took the win with her almond encrusted chicken breast on top of an arugula salad with watermelon and feta.

The Chef Showdown judges comprised of a select group of assisted living residents.

The City of Glen Cove shared the recipe of the runner up: Watermelon Feta Bruschetta. Recipe is below:

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil (preferably extra-virgin)
• 2 cups diced watermelon
• 1 cup feta cheese, cut into fine diced cubes
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh mint
• 4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, or to taste

For 16 Toasts

• 1 24-inch-long loaf of crust Italian or French bread
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

1. To make toasts: Prepare grill or preheat broiler. With a serrated knife cut bread crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Combine the oil and garlic together and spread it on one side of the cut bread. Arrange bread slices in one layer in a shallow baking pan and bake in middle of oven until golden, about 10 minutes.

1. In a bowl toss together watermelon, cheese, chives, mint, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste and mound about 1 tablespoon on oiled side of each toast.

Image via City of Glen Cove: (L to R) Ken Mello, Atria Glen Cove head chef and director of Culinary Services; Jennifer Amarante, Executive Director, Atria Glen Cove; Maria Chiaramonte, Atria Glen Cove Assistant Director of Culinary Services; Mayor Spinello and Coleen Spinello.