TravelCenters of America announced the winners of its UltraChef Million Point Recipe Challenge.


From more than 1,000 recipes, two grand prize winners, Tom Prostrollo and Mike Feerick, were chosen by TA's executive chef and restaurant panel of judges. Each received 200,000 UltraOne Points. The two winners will also have their menu items featured at participating TA and Petro restaurants from Sept. 15 through Nov. 15, and will receive 50 additional UltraOne Points each time the dish is ordered.

Tom Prostrollo, an owner-operator from Casa Grande, Arizona, submitted a recipe for Cheese Ravioli Alfredo. Prostrollo's large Italian family included nine brothers and one sister. He says he had to learn how to cook if he wanted to eat. He says his Cheese Ravioli Alfredo is full of spices and hearty enough to satisfy hunger for hours.

"Any driver who orders it once will want it again," said Prostrollo.

Mike Feerick is an owner-operator from Burkburnett, Texas. His winning dish is Mike's Smothered Steak, which will be available at Petro Iron Skillet restaurants. This 30-year trucker looks for meat and potatoes when he's hungry. He submitted a recipe for a breaded cube steak in gravy, served up with mashed potatoes.

"Most of the drivers I know like to eat a good steak for dinner," Feerick said.

Two runners-up were also chosen, each receiving 100,000 UltraneE Points. William Bohannon and Bob Engelsman submitted recipes for Pork Chops Casino and Cajun-Gone-Italian Steak, respectively.

Judging for the UltraChef Recipe Challenge was based on originality, taste and ease of preparation.