Jeff Houck

The Tampa Tribune’s food writer since 2005, Jeff Houck covers the way people live through their food. He also hosts the Table Conversations food podcast and believes that everything crunchy is good.

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Tampa’s King Of Osso Bucco [Give It Up For Jamie Urso]

Posted May 28, 2008 by Jeff Houck

Updated May 28, 2008 at 07:51 AM

As anyone who has watched the movie “The Princess Bride” can tell you, there are a few classic blunders you can make. The most famous is that you should never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well-known is this: Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line.

A third: Never compete against Jamie Usro in a cooking throw-down when osso buco is the dish.

Urso, a cook for the Tampa Fire Department, defeated Tim Creehan, a chef for California-based Dynamic Cooking Systems during a charity cook-off May 21 at Florida Builder Appliances on Waters Avenue in Tampa. The event was a benefit for Camp Hopetake, a summer camp for burned children.

Urso’s osso buco was served with green olives on a bed of orzo. Creehan served his with a vegetable mirepoix and cheesy polenta. I was lucky to be one of the judges. I have a great job.

To see more photos from the throwdown, click here.