MONDAY - May7, 2007

34th Annual California State Chili Championship - by Karen Ray

Temperatures were in the mid 70s on Saturday May 5th for the 34th Annual California State Chili Championship in Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino, CA. Big trees shade the cooking area, and many of the cooks returned to their favorite "lucky" spot from years past. New cooks and regulars joined together to make the cookoff, combined with the 3rd Annual Inland Empire Menudo Cookoff, a great success. What could be a better date for such an event than Cinco de Mayo!?! The crowd in and out for the day was estimated by the Police Department at 30,000!!!

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This event is a happening for the San Bernardino community. Many contests are going on, and the public is very involved in the tasting and judging. The community judges the PC Cruiser Show, the Teardrop Trailers/Tow Vehicles, the Restaurant/Open Chili Division, the Menudo Contest and the ICS People's Choice Chili. You can tell that there are many fans of the event returning, as they know the numbering systems and the times the various dishes are available for tasting. In charge of the non-ICS contests is Donnie Gordon, who travels down from Las Vegas for the weekend and does an outstanding job of making sense from chaos.

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Of course, the full complement of ICS competitions were held, with all winners advancing to the World's Championship Chili Cookoff in October. Judges were there with an array of expertise, from old-timers such as Bill Storey to celebrities. We were honored to have the attention of Bob Balzer, the Publisher of the Sun-Telegram newspaper, Allan Borgon, who is a local restaurant critic with a weekly TV program, and Dennis Baxter, a San Bernardino City Councilman, who is a great fan of this event. Fred and Leah Wieland, our past World's Championship Chief Judge and Scorekeeper also attended, as did Ormly Gumfudgin, our ICS Historian, accompanied by his "better half" Edi.

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The weather mostly cooperated, with only an few occasional gusts of wind to send the judging supplies scattering. Chairman, Mike Austin, assisted by his son, Tony, and his friend, Jeff Meads, had it all together. Emcees Steve Porter and Claude Covington handled the activities on two stages with competence. Dennis Macklin was the site coordinator, saving favorite spots for the regulars and recommending "good spots" to the newbies. Chief Judge, Bill Ray, held his usual interesting meetings; and Chief Scorekeeper, Karen Ray, managed to have all of the forms and supplies available for the judging. Karen was very ably assisted by Leah Wieland, Edi Gumfudgin, Mary Ellen Weber and Allene Macklin---what a crew!! Thanks to all for making it all happen.

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At the end of the day, the winners were:

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Best Booth:

2nd, Geraldine Villalpando, Chili a la Madre

1st, Bruce Pion, Killer Chili

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Best Showmanship:

2nd, Dan Plascencia, Cowboy Chili

1st, Bruce Pion, Killer Chili

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Salsa (16 entries):

3rd, Dave Thomas, Crazee Horse Chili

2nd, Sachiko Brecke, Horny Toad Chili Too

1st, Bob Poston, Borger Bulldog Chili, San Diego CA

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ICS People's Choice Chili:

3rd, Chilly Funn, Bobbo's Chili Works

2nd, Bruce Pion, Killer Chili

1st, Jesse Truebo, Jesse's Green Team, San Bernardino CA

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Chili Verde (17 entries):

3rd, Karen Angotti, Uncle Tony's Wop-Sided Chili

2nd, Sachiko Brecke, Horny Toad Chili Too

1st, Eric Stewart, Off-Road Chili, Loma Linda CA

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ICS Traditional Red Chili (34 entries):

5th, Bob Dyer, Gerajammers Chili

4th, Jim Beaty, Sespe Creek Chili

3rd, Barry Steinberg, RIP Chili (won the tiebreaker over Jim)

2nd, Eileen Beaty, Moose Tracks Chili (how many 2nd's, Eileen?)

1st, Nancy Swenberger, Gone with the Wind Chili Too, Mesa AZ

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Nancy now joins her husband, Dick, as a California State Champion. Her comment was "It really feels good!"

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Thanks to all who contributed to this great event.

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NERCC

Dear chili cooks

I'm sorry I didn't email you sooner....but it was our grand sons 1st birthday....and he had an messy appointment with a cake.

Kat and I can't begin to thank all of you enough. I wish we had an hour to spend with each of you as we wanted to talk to everyone of you. We tried.

From early estimates, you raised almost $9,000 and almost 14 carriages of canned goods for the Enfield Food Shelf! That's pretty darn good and you should all be proud of yourselves for what you did.

The K of C breakfast was great from all indications,the bands rocked(those 14 year old kids, huh??), the vendors were VERY gracious,the magician was so great,the judging and score keeping was stellar....and the weather fantastic.

I'll tell you one last story....yesterday during everything going on,Kat and I were running around..... a woman stopped me and asked if I was "Mad Mike". I told her I was....she gave me a BIG hug and then she proceeded to tell me that she used to receive services from the Enfield Food Shelf. She said that what you all were doing was a blessing to so many people and that she wanted me to thank you all at some point. So for Elizabeth and her 2 kids,"Thank YOU"......because you proved to a lot of people in this area what so many already knew....that Chili Cooks are "Dedicated to making a difference"....and like I said at the cooks meeting....when you cook chili with your friends,you're already a winner.

Please check http://chilict.tripod.Com/ as there are pics and news from the NERCC!

If you have any pics from the NERCC...please send them to me as I'll post them on the NERCC web site.

From our hearts,

Thank you so much for everything,

Kathy and Michael

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Silver State Regional in Pahrump, NV.

Directions to the cookoff area for those cooks that are coming to the Silver State Regional in Pahrump, NV.

If you are staying at Saddlewest Casino & Hotel, turn left out of parking lot, go to second stop light, about 1 1/2 miles and turn left again. Park is on the immediate right behind the Rudd Community Center. Norm will be at the park Friday starting about noon for anyone who wants to set up on Friday. There won't be security, but lots of chiliheads in RV's to keep an eye on things.

Also Norm and Bobbie will be hosting the after chili cookoff party on Saturday again this year, we will have maps at the cookoff.

Hope to see a lot of cooks there, the Chamber has some neat things in the goodie bags this year, and El Pato products will be there also.

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Tampa Chili Fest

May 19, 2007

Contact: Silvana Golzman

E-Mail: sgolzman@fermanmail.net

Phone: 813.740.9898 ext. 295

Location: Tampa Harley Davidson 6920 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, FL

Entry Fee: Red Chili $10/$52 Salsa $10 or both for $15

Charity: Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County Firefighter Charities

Winner advances to the: Last Chance Chili Cookoff at the 2007 World's Championship Chili Cookoff™

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