HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Honolulu-based firefighter is making national headlines — and it’s all thanks to a recipe that has been passed down for generations.
About six months ago, Firefighter III Joshua Cole was reading a Costco Connection magazine when he spotted an ad inviting firefighters to submit their best recipes for a feature.
“I thought, ‘Hey, I’ll send in one of my favorite recipes.’ Next thing I know, I saw it in the magazine,” Cole said. “It was a huge surprise to me.”
Cole submitted his braised beef recipe, which was selected for the July edition of Costco Connection.
It’s a recipe that’s been passed down within the Honolulu Fire Department for generations. In fact, Cole said he learned it from one of his senior firefighters.
I remember I was at the station and my coworker cooked this super awesome, super tasty dish and I really wanted to learn how to make it so I could cook it both at work and at home. He was kind enough to teach it to me, share it with me. He actually got the recipe from one of his senior firefighers, so in a way, it’s an HFD family recipe.
Joshua Cole, Honolulu Fire Department
And it wasn’t just a small mention. The braised beef recipe made the front page.
“It’s pretty cool seeing one of our own in this kind of national magazine with other fire departments around the nation,” said fellow firefighter Kameron Oguna.
According to Cole, it’s not just about the final product. He said cooking the meal is all about camaraderie and teamwork.
“We work 24 hours a day. We spend a lot of time with each other. The teamwork and learning that we do together in the kitchen translates really well to the fireground.”
Oguna added that cooking helps bring everyone together to talk story about firefighting or personal lives, strengthening their family bond.
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“Please try the recipe. It’s really good, not hard to make and doesn’t break the bank. If you don’t like that one, ask one of your other friendly firefighters or any other firefighter you know. I’m sure they’ll hook you up with a good one,” Cole added.
And always remember — when you do cook at home, make sure to follow safe cooking practices. Tips and tricks on how to cook safely can be found on HFD’s website.