Morristown hurricane cooks plan their next course: ‘Disaster Delights Cookbook’

Morristown’s emergency responders may be weary. But they’re not hungry.

Retired chef Jim Koons and his wife, Dr. Janice Smiell, are making sure of that.

Ever since Hurricane Sandy said lights out to most of Morristown, the couple has been ensconced in the cramped kitchen at town hall, churning out two healthy meals a day for police, firefighters, public works employees and volunteers. Residents visiting the third-floor warming station have shared the bounty, too.

“It’s all homemade, simple recipes of comfort food, trying to give everyone the nice comforts of home,” said Jim, who worked in the catering industry for 25 years.

Jim and Janice, past chairpersons of the local Relay for Life cancer fundraiser, have been feeding about 100 people a day with whatever is handy, whipping up meals from donated items and staples bought from the Kings supermarket across the street, with a budget supplied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Janice, a surgeon, likened their post-Sandy routine to her favorite food challenge programs on the Food Network.

The menu has included a “deconstructed Italian hot dog casserole,” beef stroganoff, chicken cacciatore, Caesar salad with grilled chicken, chicken noodle soup and tomato vegetable soup, cabbage noodles and onions, and baked beans.

Jim brought along his own kitchen utensils, and is contemplating a Disaster Delights Cookbook to raise money to properly equip the town facility.

Kitchen duty–which runs from 9 am to midnight– is a good way to pass the time while his own power is out, Jim said on Sunday afternoon.

“It keeps us busy and makes everyone happy,” he said. Emergency responders are “working 12 hours a day. They don’t want to come in for a slice of pizza or a sandwich or a burger from somewhere. They miss a meal. They’re working a hard day.”

So are Nancy and Monroe Kahn, who have been helping with the meals.

“Nancy said this is ‘Take Your Husband to Work Day,'” joked Monroe, whose wife works in Morristown’s finance department.  Monroe retired from property management a few years ago and returned to school after a 50-year hiatus; he said he is thrilled to finally use his hospitality degree from the County College of Morris.

Mayor Tim Dougherty, who has spent many hours making the rounds with town emergency responders and reassuring residents since the storm struck on Oct. 29, enjoyed the soup on Sunday.

“The food’s good,” the Mayor said. “Times of crisis and disaster bring out the best in people. We’re very grateful to the chef and his family, and to all the volunteers who have helped us out.”