The Nashua Senior Activities Center’s Fire & Fusion event was a huge hit Wednesday, attracting a packed house at Alpine Grove Banquet Facility in Hollis. Pictured following the executive chef competition are, Judy Kunz Porter event co-chairperson and Senior Center development director; judge Nicole Barreira, corporate chef, Great NH Restaurants; chef Guy Streitburger, Arbors of Bedford; event host Mike Morin; chef Rejean Sheehy, Courville at Nashua; chef Bailey Bocci, Bridges by Epoch at Nashua; judge Sean McDonald, WMUR new anchor; Susan Laughlin, food editor of NH Magazine and Wendy Sage-Matsis, co-chairperson, Bridges by Epoch at Nashua.

HOLLIS – The Nashua Senior Activity Center’s premier fundraising event drew a capacity crowd to the Alpine Grove Banquet Facility in Hollis on Wednesday, as five local chefs whipped up mouth-watering dishes for a panel of celebrity judges.

Taking top honors in this year’s post-pandemic, in-person competition was chef Rejean Sheehy of Courville at Nashua. The 30-year Courville culinary veteran previously won the top chef award in the 2017 competition, and has won People’s Choice nods three times – in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

“I’m really surprised,” Sheehy said after scoring the win. “All of these chefs were amazing.”

Earning People’s Choice accolades this year was chef Bailey Bocci of Bridges by Epoch at Nashua.

This was Bocci’s first in-person Fire & Fusion event, only participating in the virtual 2020 show and as an assistant chef in the 2019 edition of the contest.

The official finishing order for the competition was:

• Top Chef: Sheehy

• Second place: Bocci

• Third place: Guy Streitburger of Arbors of Bedford.

• People’s Choice: Bocci

The other two chefs in the competition were James LeBlanc of Bedford Falls and Jim Younce of The Hunt Community.

Event co-chairperson and Nashua Senior Activity Center Development Director Judy Kunz Porter was thankful this year’s event not only went off without a hitch, but also was able to be hosted in-person.

“Give yourselves a hand, because you made this happen,” Kunz Porter said. “We really did not know what to expect and, as you can see, this room is full of people. It’s just amazing. Wendy (Sage-Matsis – event co-chairperson), Mike (Morin) and I started to plan this event in October on a hope that we would be able to have this in-person.”

Kunz Porter also stressed the importance of supporting the Senior Center and its programs in any manner possible, even if not financially.

“Be an ambassador for the Senior Center,” Kunz Porter added. “It costs you nothing. Encourage people to come down, especially seniors that have been so impacted by COVID and isolation.”

Celebrity judges for this year’s event were Nicole Barreira, the corporate chef for Great NH Restaurants; Susan Laughlin, the food editor for NH Magazine and Sean McDonald, WMUR Channel 9’s news anchor.

The event’s host, Mike Morin, also was honored at the event by Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess and the Board of Aldermen, who praised the longtime radio host and Telegraph columnist for all his efforts assisting local charities and organizations.

“We would like to give you this special recognition for nine years here at Fire & Fusion,” Donchess said. “You have done so much for this nonprofit and many other nonprofits. So, I, and members of the Board of Aldermen … want to recognize your for all your service and commitment.

Chef prize donors were Great New Hapshire Restaurants, Courtyard by Marriott at Nashua and Courtyard by Marriott at Concord. Mystery ingredients were furnished by Great NH Restaurants.

For a complete list of sponsors, raffle basket donors and additional photographs, visit www.nashuatelegraph.com.

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