GREAT FORSYTH CHILI COOKOFF - JANUARY 15, 2011
The beautiful Hickory Point Mall was again the setting for the 8th annual Forsyth ICS Regional Chili cookoff.
The Mall is a great location for the ICS cookoff as well as the Celebrity cookoff. The logistics of all this works out very well.
The out of town folks stay at the Homewood Suites directly behind the mall and all the cooks and judges were treated, at the hotel, after the cookoff, to good food and beverages provided by Ray’s Products as well as Buffalo Wild Wings and Debbie’s Diner.
This is a well attended cook off for cooks as well as public attendance. There are more than 30 ICS contestants and more than 30 celebrity cooks that bring in Homestyle chili in crockpots etc.
Hap Gilbert (Mayor of Forsyth) and Kathy Mizer (Village Clerk) have for the past 8 years done an excellent job of producing and directing this Regional cookoff.
Over the years the cookoff has provided several thousands of dollars to the two selected Charities of choice. The Salvation Army and the Catholic Charities.
Last year over $7,700 was dived among the 2 chariteis and this year, while it is to soon to tell, could exceed last years denotations.
Ray’s Brands Products and Spice Co. is one of the Major sponsors and the owners of Ray’s Chilli, Jay and Rex Nicole also are a big part of this cookoff. Jay is the Chief Judge and Rex, (Jay’s wife), is the Chief Score Keeper.
Of course this would not be possible without all the Chili contestants that support this cookoff.
Least not to forget the excellent prize monies that Hap has been able to garner for the cooks………$1,200 for first place Red Chili is an example.
Kim Nelson who works very hard at organizing the celebrity Homestyle cookoff, and rounding up all the judges for all the contest is to also be recognized. She works very hard and diligently to provide all this.
With all this said, the main objective is to raise dollars for the two Charities that desperately need these funds at this time.
“HATS OFF TO ALL”
SALSA 13 contestants - 13 judges
3rd place = Mike Goodman 9 pts. (Pewaukee, WI.)
2nd place = Larry Lentz 11 pts. (Nicholasville, KY.)
1st place = Tom Calvert 17 pts. (Taylorville, IL.)
VERDE 18 contestants - 14 judges
4th place HM = Diane Lentz 9 pts. (Nicholasville, KY.)
3rd place = Lynn Virant 9 pts (Omaha, NE.) won tie break
2nd place = Todd Finn 13 pts. (Ofallon, MO.)
1st place = Wes Carlson 13 pts. (Loves Park, IL.) won tie break
Red Chili 33 contestants - 31 judges
3rd place = Charles (Bill) Thomas 9 pts. (Naperville, IL.)
2nd place = David Thordarson 11 pts (Bloomfield, IA.)
1st place = Jeff Netser 12 pts. (Seymour, IN.)
Notice a trend here ?? ……….All category winners are WORLD CHAMPIONS!
Needless to say they were all very happy.
Congratulations to all the contestants, they are all winners!
