RIVER RESORTS CHILI COOKOFF - NOVEMBER 20, 2010
River Resorts Regional was its usual great success. This is a very unique chili cookoff, held a long way from nowhere but always well-attended by the chiliheads and by the public. Bill and I took the motorhome out to the River on Tuesday this year, needing some R&R and also anxious to play with our new toy. The weather was totally cooperative, with temperatures in the 70s and no W___! On Wednesday we were joined by Captain Jim and Willma Maehl and Bob and Ellen Dyer. On Thursday the complement of camping chiliheads began to arrive, and the “golf course” began to look like a happening.
Friday is work day. Everybody pitches in to prepare the bacon, sausages, potatoes and fruit for the Saturday morning repast, and the ladies combine forces to make the fruit cups. The gals also spend their time making the tasting kits to be sold to the public the next day. Captain Jim handles the setup of the campers on Thursday and Friday as well as the setup of the cooks on Saturday who come for the day. Friday passes quickly and by evening everything is in place for the cookoff. Jim Stoddard and Bill Woodring make their usual appearances on Friday afternoon, completing our tradition.
Breakfast is served on Saturday morning at 8:00. Armando Sanchez provides libations including Bloody Marys, Mimosas, Screwdrivers and a splash of brandy for your coffee. We are joined by Bob and Louise Dinnewith, Donnie Gordon and Steve and Linda Porter, all of whom will be officiating at the cookoff in various capacities. The Saturday weather is not quite as cooperative as the past days, but bearable—-cooler temperatures and a little breezy, darn it! The public was enthusiastic in its tasting of the optional People’s Choice chili, purchasing $960 in tasting kits, half of which went to the winner of the contest and half of which was designated for our personal charity of choice, English Springer Rescue America. We were assisted at the sales booth by our own two personable Springers, Sammy and Shelley, who enabled folks to see what the fuss was all about.
As previously mentioned the efficient officials were:
Site Coordinator: Captain Jim Maehl
Chief Judge: Bob Dinnewith
Chief Scorekeeper: Donnie Gordon
Scorekeepers: Louise Dinnewith, Marilou Corrao and Sharon Ayers
Emcee: Steve Porter
Wrangler: Bill Corrao
Cooking for the first time at River Resorts Regional were Ray and Mary Bogart, Mike and Sandy McAfee and Steve and Tish Crawford. Fred and Patti Summers returned after an absence of four years. All say that they will be back with bells on!
The winners were:
Best Booth/Showmanship: Steve and Tish Crawford
Mr. Hot Sauce: Todd of the Riverside Fire Department
Miss Chili Pepper: Linda Porter
Shoot ‘n’ Holler: Armando Sanchez, the 2010 World’s Shoot ‘n’ Holler Champion
Salsa (8 entries):
3rd, Ray Bogart
2nd, Marcia Wohler
1st, Russell Barnes. Russ won salsa here last year and got home to discover that there was no check in his envelope. He won salsa this year but was not announced as the winner due to a clerical error. Keep trying, Russ; we’ll get it right one of these days!
Chili Verde (14 entries):
3rd, Mark Haught
2nd, Jodi Wiseman
1st, Charlie Ward, completing his Hat Trick
Optional People’s Choice Chili (15 booths):
Tony and Donna Inglese, winning People’s Choice at this cookoff for 4 out of the last 5 years.
Traditional Red Chili (24 entries):
5th, Mike Ford
4th, Jim Stoddard
3rd, Sachiko Brecke
2nd, Mike “Ughlee” Austin
1st, Steve Crawford
November 19, 2011 will be the 25th Annual cookoff at Lost Lake Resort! Please plan to join us for this cookoff. Several “special” events are planned and new cooks are always welcomed with open arms. Once you cook here you’ll join the “cult” and keep coming back for years to come.
Submitted by Karen Ray
