SUNDAY - July 16, 2006

Old Miner's Regional, Big Bear, CA

With all the rumors of road closings and evacuations we wondered how much it would effect the cookoff... Some, but not too much. There was more smoke from the fires in Vegas than in Big Bear. We were all glad to Gene & Red Wheat as they had already been evacuated earlier. The other excitement of the weekend was Val Gereghty & Ryan Sweeney made a run to the store and Val's 2 week old vehicle got T-Boned. Both are alright (although they are probably so sore today that neither would agree to that statement. The guy that hit them was on alcohol & Vicodin... he left the hospital in cuffs. With timing a little tight and the chief scorekeeper either with the police or at the hospital Barry & Sylvia Steinberg and Armando & Trisha Sanchez pitched in to cover any and every gap as they appeared. Mark Sweeney did his usual great job as Chief Judge and Mike Austin as Emcee was as always wonderful (Maria was with him this trip and looks beautiful). Scorekeepers were Donnie Gordon, Melody Sweeney & Sylvia Steinberg. I have to say that with the fire concerns, Val's accident and tight timing the cookoff ran like a well oiled machine. It was a delightful team to work with and I want to thank you all for the opportunity.

Local awards (Perpetual Merchant & Best Local Cook) were swept by Cheryl Hall of the Carpet Barn who also had 4 points in Chili and took Best 1st Time Cook.

Sam's Pirate Chili (another local) took Booth and People's Choice.

Salsa (15 entries)

3rd Place - Dick Swenberger AZ

2nd Place - Mike Montalone CA

1st Place - Steve Pike CA

Verde (15 entries)

3rd Place - Joe Swiderski CA

2nd Place - Bob Wiseman NV

1st Place - Jodi Wiseman NV

Red Chili (26 entries)

Tied for 4th - Don Hammes & Nibs Waters

3rd Place - Udo Winkler CA

2nd Place - Jodi Wiseman NV

1st Place - Nancy Swenberger AZ

.

.

.

Alberta Championship and Western Canadian Regional

Just a reminder that there is one week to go before the Alberta Provincial Championship and Western Canadian Regional - and these are both qualifiers for the Worlds in Omaha. We have heard from some of you but if any more are planning to come, please drop us a line (bzchili@hotmail.com) so we can plan for food and most important of all judges. Cook's party at the Bilozir's - 507 37th Street SW - 240-0109 - starts at 6:30 pm.

Joy and Randy Bilozir

.

.

.

Idaho State Chili Cookoff, July 29 , 2006, Kellogg, Idaho.

Dear chili cooks,

In two (2) weeks the Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg Idaho will be hosting the Idaho State Chili Cookoff. Charlie and Barbara Ward will be the Chief Judge and Scorekeeper. The cookoff will begin with setup and registration at 7:00 and cooking Verde will start at 10:00. Red cooks can light their fires at Noon. Salsa turn in at 11:00.

.

The directions to the resort are from interstate 90, take exit 49 and follow the signs to the Morning Star Lodge where the cookoff will be held at the base of the Gondola. The Lodge is offering cooks a 10% off discount when they mention the cookoff.

Please feel free to visit the web site www.silvermt.com for any additional info.

.

Additionally I can assure you that the judging will strictly follow ICS rules and regulations. We need contestant information so please enter on the ICS website www.chilicookoff.com .

.

Thank you, see you there, Marilee Barrett

.

.

.

HOTFORD CHILI FESTIVAL

We are deeply disappointed to announce that the first annual ‘HOTFORD’ Chili Cook-off Festival will NOT be happening in Hartford, Connecticut on August 26, 2006 due to funding. Please stay in touch with Mad Mike about future chili happenings in Hartford, CT. He can be reached at madmike@peoplepc.com.

Thanks to everyone who has helped us along this short path – we hope to see you all in 2007!

Sincerely

“Hotford” Working Committee of 4!

kbf

Kristin Beth Ferris

The Ferris Group, LLC

Event, Sponsorship, Promotions & Marketing Specialists

1245 Farmington Avenue

#102

West Hartford, CT 06107

ph/fax - 860.677.6864

http://www.theferrisgroupct.com/

.

.

.

Carson City Cookoffs

Last year we had the Waterfall fire that threatened Carson City. Many homes were lost on the west side of town, and even our cookoff venue was threatened. Fortunately, the fire was contained just a few days before our cookoffs.

I see on the news that the Southern California wildfires could affect Big Bear's cookoff this weekend. Our thoughts are with you since "we been there, done that." While we hope that the Big Bear cookoff is not affected by the fires, if there is a problem, you are invited to cook at the High Sierra Regional and Nevada Capital Regional Cookoffs this weekend--Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16--in Carson City. We have space available under the trees and on the lawn at Glen Eagles Restaurant.

.

.

.

Illinois Chili Cooks

ILLINOIS CHILI COOKS UPDATE

Just an update to let all of you know the progress of the Illinois chili cooks so far this year.

We have a total of 21 Illinois cooks that will be competing in the World's Championship in Omaha this Oct.

These competitors will be competing in Red, Verde, Salsa, and "Last Chance" competitions.

That is pretty amazing considering that we are just barely over half of the cooking season. There is still more Illinois cooks yet to qualify and many of you will.

What GREAT support Illinois will have at the WCCC.

Of these 21 competitors (so far), 9 will be doing Red, 9 will be doing Verde, 10 will be doing Salsa, and 2 will be in the "Last Chance."

Three of these contestants are "Hat Trick" winners.....Scott Barrett, Les Eastep, & Bob Hall.

Following is a list of our Illinois Winners;

SALSA

1) Tom Calvert

2) Linda Curtin

3) Bob Hall

4) Ben Curtin

5) Jose Torres

6) Wes Carlson

7) Scott Barrett

8) Mary Thomas

9) Les Eastep

10) Gloria Stevens

.

VERDE

1) Bob Hall

2) Lloyd Weir

3) Scott Barrett

4) Wes Carlson

5) Maureen Barrett

6) Les Eastep

7) Jim Deere

8) Tom Calvert

9) Paul Wessing

.

RED

1) Les Eastep

2) "Aldo" Klinghammer

3) Scott Barrett

4) Dave Schmitt

5) Cathy Schmedeke

6) Larry Eastep

7) Mark Hurt

8) Bob Hall

9) Joni Deere

.

"Last Chance"

Robin Davis

Paul Wessing

.

As our Friend and Mentor (Joe Defrates) said........."Watch Your Pot"

Good Luck too all!

.

.

=========================================

If you have an article for posting to Dick's Chili World BLOG, they should be emailed to GWTWChili@aol.com

=========================================

Tell your Chilihead Friends about the BLOG and how it works.