Food Network champion chef cooks up special meal for Fall River first responders

FALL RIVER — The city’s police and fire departments got a special thank you on Tuesday when a group of business people brought food truck fare to the first responders.

Chefs Brian McElhiney and Eric Eastman, co-owners of the SWAT and Lobsta Luv food trucks with chef Steven Coe, a two-time “Chopped” winner, dished out chicken and Portuguese rice with linguica for the police, fire department, medical workers and other first responders.

As of about 11:30, they said they had already fed about 25 to 30 first responders and the line continued steadily as they inched toward noon.

The event started at the Fall River police station at 11 a.m. followed by a second stop at the Fire Department’s Flint Station in the afternoon. That morning, Fall River fire crews battled a fire in a former Duro mill building.

Bradford J. Simmons II, of the Simmons Insurance Group, conceived of the idea of the “Feed the First Responder” events and he reached out to Coe, who is also the executive chef of the Marshfield Country Club. Adam St. Ours, of Designs to Signs in Dighton, joined the initiative producing logo T-shirts and other items, with $15 of every purchase going back into the program.

As the members of the Fall River police lined up for their lunch, they also made a stop to pick up a raffle ticket St. Ours was handing out. One lucky winner from the day in Fall River was going to win a 55-inch television as part of the thank-you event.

Simmons, who was on hand to personally thank the first responders on Tuesday, said this was their third event. They also fed first responders in New Bedford and the Dartmouth Police Station.

“I think it’s great,” said Fall River Fire Department Lt. Michael Ferry, who works at the police station as a liaison between the two departments. “I’m glad to see they’re recognizing everybody too. My wife is a phlebotomist at the hospital so it’s also the people you don’t hear about.”

Jeffrey Cardoza, the newly named police chief, said the event means a lot for the first responders. “Obviously like the rest of the public, they have the same anxieties and fears that come along with the COVID-19 pandemic but they’re essential workers. They’re still here and they’re doing it willingly and professionally because they have to, however when they’re out there dealing with the public they’re dealing with those fears,” he said. “I’m extremely proud of them; when Brad (Simmons) reached out to offer to come in to recognize that, these guys were thrilled. Just to have that recognition, it means a lot to them.”

Sarah Bisch, of Lion Gate Real Estate in Fall River, one of the sponsors of the event said, “I live in the city, I work in the city, and I do business in the city, and I want to give back to the community.”

The following sponsors also helped to bring the “Feed the First Responder” event to fruition: Sergio Dabdoub of badmonkeypics, One South Coast Chamber, Rick Manuels of Spindle City Auto Glass, Nick Ricciardi of Cafe Italia Ristorante, Bank 5, BayCoast Bank, Fall River Municipal Credit Union, Sawejko Communications, Bristol County Savings Bank, Brabo Payroll, Re/Max Right Choice and Panoramic View.

To become a sponsor or just hear more about this program, contact Simmons at brad@simmons-benefits.com. To purchase a “Feed the First Responder” item from the store, visit https://stores.inksoft.com/feed_the_first_responders/