PHOTOS: Malden Cook-Off For Seniors

MALDEN, MA - A cooking contest in Malden pitted the best chefs of Atria Maplewood Place against one another with only one rule - their dish must feature watermelon.

"When Atria Maplewood Place resident and retired chef Paul Silva asked Mayor Christenson to be a guest judge in their cook-off event, the Mayor was in," a release said.

"The contest between Maplewood Place Chef James Zammuto and Mr. Silva was held in the sunny outdoor courtyard. The only requirement was that watermelon had to be used as a key ingredient in the preparation. The chefs were given 20 minutes to concoct and make their dishes in front of the many residents who enjoyed wine and ice cold beverages during the competition. Chef Silva made a delicious watermelon pizza that contained sautéed onions, bleu cheese, and basil. He also made a version containing marinated, grilled chicken. Chef Zammuto prepared grilled salmon with a delectable salsa that included watermelon, mango, onions and balsamic vinegar. Both mouthwatering dishes were delicious making the judges’ task extremely difficult. In the end, Chef Zammuto wowed the judges with the flavors of his dish and took the top prize. The Mayor has offered to be a judge in every cook-off moving forward," a release said.