PA Governor, Celebrity Chef Serve Firefighters Who Saved His House
By Sue Gleiter
Source pennlive.com
Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family hosted a lunch today for firefighters who responded to Sunday’s fire at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.
Shapiro and first lady Lori Shapiro and their children were joined by celebrity chef Robert Irvine at the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire Station No. 1 in the city.
They served Creole shrimp, short ribs, Mambo chicken, glazed salmon, ratatouille and mac n’ cheese.
The lunch was held as a thank you to the firefighters who Shapiro said by answering the call early Sunday literally saved their lives.
“We talked as a family about wanting to do something to help say thank you. There’s no no real words other than thank you and there’s no way that we can fully express our great thanks other than to be dedicated to supporting our firefighters and first responders every day,” Shapiro said.
The fire was set around 2 a.m. Sunday when police said Cody A. Balmer put gasoline from his lawnmower into two beer bottles that he then threw into residence, setting the mansion ablaze.
Balmer, 38, of Penbrook, is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, for the firebombing.
During Thursday’s lunch, Shapiro took the opportunity to highlight his support of professional and volunteer firefighters in the 2025 budget proposal.
The governor is requesting an additional $30 million in competitive grants for Pennsylvania’s fire companies.
The Robert Irvine Foundation supports the physical and mental well-being of service members, veterans and first responders, and their families.
It’s not the first time Irvine has teamed up with the Shapiros. The former Food Network star and his team prepared a lunch in 2023 served to veterans at the Governor’s Residence.
Irvine was also in Harrisburg in 2011 when he filmed a “Restaurant Impossible” episode at Dodge City Steakhouse in Harrisburg.
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