TUESDAY - August 8, 2006

Windy City Regional Results

Three winners in Salsa, Chile Verde, Red Chili were selected to represent Chicago at the WCCC in Omaha this year. Saturday was warm, but overcast skies and a refreshing Lake Michigan breeze helped to make it almost an ideal day to cook chili. The crowd of 150 samplers must have agreed as well since the chili supply was exhausted in 45 minutes. And the cooks really showed their stuff as many made extra chili, along with their turn-in chili, to help feed the hungry throng. The cooks came from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio to join our local cooks in a strong showing of chili diversity. Four new cooks joined the ICS fold on Saturday as well. I would like to thank our sponsors: Chicago Cutlery for their financial support as well as the knives they supplied in the goodie bag, Redmonds Bar & Grill for entering their Head Cook as a contestant and helping with the prize money, Glazed Expressions who creates our unique trophies, and La Mora restaurant where the judging takes place. My great thanks and appreciation also go out to Wes and Ginny Carlson as Head Judge and scorekeeper who make running this cookoff easy. Special thanks to Nancy Usiak for taking care of the registration, wranglering, and taking care of all the last minute problems that arise. The Food Pantry of St. Teresa of Avila also especially appreciates the efforts of the cooks, judges and spectators in raising enough money to feed 50 families for a month.

Now for the winners:

Salsa:(10 entries)

Honorable mention: Capt. Duke Collins of the Elmwood Park F.D.

1st place: Kevin Christianson - Hartford WI

.

Chile Verde (10 entries)

3rd: Mike Stevens - Homer Glen IL

2nd: Jose Torres - Orland Park IL

Champion: Loretta Torres - Orland Park IL

.

Red (24 entries)

3rd: Pat Gustafson - Chicago IL

2nd: Gail Donovan - Cincinnati OH

Champion: Ton Heiser - Madison WI

.

The State of Illinois was certainly the center of the Chili World this weekend with over 60 cooks participating in Chicago and Decatur..

.

.

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

If you have articles for posting to Dicks Chili World BLOG, they can be emailed to GWTWChili@aol.com

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

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