Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook wins first-ever Iron Viking competition
By Adam Carlson
When Dalvin Cook isn’t kicking butt on the football field, the Minnesota Vikings running back apparently has some awesome skills in the kitchen.
Fans of the Minnesota Vikings can have a wide variety of interests outside the NFL. It’s not out of the ordinary to find even the most devoted followers of the team talking about a wide variety of shows and movies and other pop culture topics.
There was a time when Iron Chef was one of the most popular shows on television. The classic Japanese television show had some of the top chefs going against each other with a ‘secret ingredient’ they must use in their dishes to find out whose cuisine reigns supreme.
The show has spawned multiple in numerous countries, but perhaps the most interesting is that Minnesota’s football team has put their own spin on the format, creating a competition called Iron Viking during the Taste of the Vikings fundraiser at U.S. Bank Stadium.
According to the official website of the Minnesota Vikings, running back Dalvin Cook teamed up with chef James Mahne to take on defensive end Stephen Weatherly and another chef in the competition.
The contest spanned 30 minutes and ended with Davin Cook’s team bringing home a victory by making a delicious crab cake and using sea urchin in a creative and fun way, impressing one of the judges, former MasterChef Junior contestant Ariana Feygin.
"“I wish everybody could have a plate because it’s that good,” Cook said."
Of course, Dalvin Cook is no stranger to the kitchen. Fans will remember the running back visited a restaurant following his Week 1 game only to learn it was closed. Still, the owners let him in where he prepared his own stir-fry.
Knowing he has some culinary skills, it’s no surprise he walked away with the win. But the real winners were the charities earning money from the Taste of the Vikings fundraiser. Executive Director of Social Impact Brett Taber spoke about the good the event will bring.
"“All the funds raised from the evening will go to support the Minnesota Vikings Foundation and its efforts around youth health and education. Specifically, those funds are going to be directed toward the Minnesota Vikings Food Truck that we look forward to launching this fall. It’s going to help provide meals to underserved kids in our communities.”"
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Taste of the Vikings is an annual event held by the team, so fans hoping to get a sample of the amazing charity event will need to wait until 2019 to check it out. However, Minnesota Vikings are always doing great things for the community and hosting events, so keep your eyes peeled for future opportunities.