DESERT RAT REGIONAL - MARCH 26, 2011
DESERT RAT REGIONAL
California City
As February slowly fades away and March begins, it gives us hope of warmer days and our memory fades about that overgrown rat that said we had six more weeks of winter. In the Mojave Desert there lives desert rats that make no such dire predictions. In fact, I know of one rather large desert rat that goes by the name of Dirty Ole Phil whose thoughts are turning towards chili. “Him in Charge” (as he likes to be referred to) and the American Legion are preparing for the Desert Rat Regional Chili Cookoff in the cozy little town of California City. This will be held the last Saturday of March to ensure that winter has gone south. The American Legion has a very convenient venue so that the chili cooks can cook right out of the back of there chilimobile’s. There will be plenty of room once again to circle the RVs. This will be on clean, hard-working dirt that protects our feet from the magma, thereby allowing the chili cooks to make that perfect pot of chili (it doesn’t get any better than this). Dirty Ole Phil has also secured some pretty nice prize money - $500, $300 and $100 - for both red and green chili winners and $100 for the salsa winner. All three first-place winners will be assured a seat at the big dance this fall in New Hampshire. The American Legion and “Him in Charge” have made arrangements for a free scrumptious breakfast to be served to the first 50 chili teams and judges to show their smiling faces in the morning. This culinary delight will be served from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. or while supplies last. The American Legion will also make available Saturday evening a really great game hen dinner, a lot of chow for a small amount of scratch. Disc jockey Randy will keep our audio senses alive with pleasure. Mike (ughlee) Austin will be emcee for the day. Ughlee will also be keeping an eye out for the desert tortoise to see if he can induct them into the turtle club “are you a turtle?”
Okay pilgrims! For all of you culinary aficionados, there will be a stew challenge Friday afternoon before the cookoff to be cooked in a Dutch oven over a campfire or charcoal. This will be for bragging rights and I know you cooks are good at that! There will also be some stupid but useful prizes. There will be a $15 entry fee for expenses and bribes with leftover money going to the winner. We already have a good panel of judges and we will keep them sober till the judging is over. A minimum of five cooks will be needed, so please let “Him in Charge” know if you intend to jump in with both feet. All of last year’s stews were a gastronomical delight - I was in stewdom heaven. So let’s get her done!
The guru’s for the day:
“Him in Charge” Dirty Ole Phil
Chief Scorekeeper & Supreme Scorekeeper of Stewdom - Donnie Gordon
Chief Judge & Supreme Judge of Stewdom: Capt. Jim Maehl
By Capt Jim
