NOA & ICS: A Spicy Tale
Although the love affair between onions and chili goes way back, the stars of the two worlds were, until very recently, strangers. Sure they had met in passing and exchanged longing glances … perhaps even a flirty wink or two, but nothing formal. That is, until now.
As a casual observer in this spicy sweet tale, I promise to remain objective and report the facts as I see them.. By now you may be wondering who I am, so I’ll oblige your silent request. To maintain my much needed anonymity throughout the course of this steamy affair, I ask that you simply refer to me as the Food Enthusiast.
Now, on to the more important characters … Onionista and Chilihead.
As the face of the National Onion Association, Onionista is the expert on all things onion. From recipes and cooking tips to history and interesting facts, her blog provides onion lovers with valuable and insightful information. A woman of great integrity and intelligence, Onionista, along with the NOA, has big plans for my favorite vegetable, the onion. Not only do they provide delicious recipes and helpful information, they also support onion growers – without whom there would be no onions. I know the very thought is enough to inspire nightmares and tears.
Now, Chilihead is a little harder to describe. A jack of all trades, he is a true Renaissance Man. Whether it’s traditional red chili, salsa or chili verde you’re craving, Chilihead has a recipe for you. Along with the International Chili Society, Chilihead has been paving the road to delicious chili fame and fortune. From local and regional cookoffs to the granddaddy of all chili competitions, the World’s Championship Chili Cookoff, ICS and Chilihead know the ins and outs of award-winning chili.
It happened one stormy February evening over a bowl of, what else, chili. To preserve the sanctity of the moment, I made sure neither party spoke with the other before a proper introduction could be arranged. Afterall, the meeting needed to be as organic as possible, no pun intended.
To ease their nerves and cleanse their palates (in preparation for the chili tasting), Onionista and Chilihead shared a libation or two. At first the conversation was slow and a bit awkward, as both parties experienced a rare bout of shyness. In my humble opinion, it was love at first sight that inflicted said shyness. But, I digress …
It was Onionista who broke the silence, offering up a story from her favorite cartoon, “The Tears of an Onion.” Chilihead was brought to tears himself; tears of laughter and joy. From there, the two soon-to-be lovebirds told tales of their glory days and chili cookoffs. Chilihead regaled Onionista with stories of the world renowned World’s Championship Chili Cookoff of 1985, making sure to let her know that she had a starring role in many of the championship chili recipes. As a deep purple blush spread across Onionista’s cheek, she smiled at Chilihead, thanking him for such a beautiful compliment.
The hours flew by like minutes as Onionista and Chilihead lost all track of time, completely immersed in conversation and longing glances. You could almost taste the love. I’m not usually one to brag, but I may soon change my official title to Matchmaker Extraordinaire or perhaps just the Love Maestro.
Their conversation lasted into the wee hours of the morning. At last Onionista and Chilihead bid ado and went their separate ways, but not before making plans for their next big adventure in June.
