Dick's Chili World: SUNDAY - August 12, 2007

2nd Annual Deep Creek Chili Splash

A cool front rolled through to make this event a picture perfect Chamber of Commerce day at the 2nd Annual Deep Creek Chili Splash at the Wisp Resort in McHenry, MD. Lori Epps, events manager, out did herself again putting together the music, carshow, crafts and games for this fun filled family friendly event. At 5pm all gathered at the stage for the announcement of the winners. They are as follows;

Red Chili

1^st Kim Eckley

2^nd Rob Wolfe

3^rd Ghon Eckley

Chili Verde

1^st Christian Parker

2^nd Rob Wolfe

3^rd Kim Eckley

Salsa

1^st Butch Talbert

2^nd Rob Wolfe

3^rd Rose Warmuth

Best Booth/Showmanship

was taken by Chuck Noaln

Rookie was Jimmy Walker

Peoples Choice Award was won by Rob Wolfe. Better beware of this guy Rob Wolfe.

Western Regional Chili Cookoff

The 20th Anniversary of the Western Regional Chili Cookoff was very special. There was a special cookoff button, commemorating the anniversary. All of the cooks and judges received beverage holders marking the event. Coincidentally, it was a special anniversary for the Del Mar Racetrack. Every spectator, including the chili cooks and judges, received a souvenir folding chair.

But then Western Regional Chili Cookoff is always special. Chairman, Claude Covington, delegates well. The Board of Directors of this nonprofit organization is a working Board, with each Board member having his or her assigned task. Steve and Aggie Wright, Red and Sachiko Brecke, Mike and Kathy Stewart, and Dennis and Allene Macklin all know exactly what to do to make the cookoff run smoothly and pleasantly.

People's Choice Chili at this event is very popular with the racetrack crowd. Counting the ballots to determine the winners could be a daunting task for the scorekeepers. Instead, the People's Choice Chili contest is handled, start to finish, by Claude's family. There are many helpers: Joyce Covington, Curt Covington, Bill and Crystal McHale, David and Julie Liedahl, Julie's friend, Shari Walsh, and all of their families contribute to the success of this contest. At the end of the day, all that the scorekeepers need to do is to put the names of the winners on the Winners List.

There are always many judges for this cookoff. All of the judges are special; some of the more special ones were: Dave and Carol Hancock, David and Kathy Hipskind, and Fred and Leah Wieland. The judges are always treated to an excellent lunch, including Sachiko Brecke's wonderful sushi, which she prepares by hand at the site. Chief Judge, Mike Austin, makes sure that everything runs smoothly and "by the book". With Kathy Stewart as Chief Scorekeeper, the judging and tallying are always done efficiently. Of course, between the contests many of the judges, as well as many of the cooks, are engaged with betting on the horse races. We heard that Claude won $99 on one race. He didn't share with us how much he won or lost on the others.

All three contests were held, and all were hotly contended. At the awards ceremony, each of the cooks and judges had been entered into a drawing for a beautiful gift basket donated by Walker Foods, the manufacturer of El Pato products. This was won by second-time cook, Jim Caldwell. His first cookoff was Studio Diner, so Jim has had quite an initiation into the world of chili. At the end of the day the winners were:

Salsa (24 entries):

3rd, Mike Ford

2nd, Judy Barnes

1st, Dick Swenberger, all the way from Arizona. This completes his Hat Trick.

Chili Verde (14 entries):

3rd, Bob Dyer

2nd, Charlie Blosfield

1st, Karen Angotti

People's Choice Chili:

3rd, Russell Barnes

2nd, Lee Roy Watson, also from Arizona

1st, Dan Placencia

Traditional Red Chili (29 entries):

5th, Barry Steinberg

4th, Norm Gaul, last year's winner

3rd, Fujiko Poston

2nd, Bob Dyer

1st, Charlie Blosfield

Congratulations to all!

WINNERS CALLED IN

Article & Full Results to follow

Rocky Mountain Regional 8/11/07

SALSA - 1^st Pricilla Licon CO

CHILI VERDE - 1^st Louis Gonzales TX

ICS RED - 1st Judy Wedemeyer CO

Colorado State 8/12/07

SALSA - 1st Steve Tomasek IV CO

CHILI VERDE - 1st Diane Gatschet CO

ICS RED - 1st Erika Knutson CO

BLUEGRASS REGIONAL COOKOFF

Well chili cooks we're down to one week and counting. If you haven't made your plans for attending the Blue Grass Regional, Well all I can say is you're going to miss a great cookoff. Diane and Larry Lentz have put together a great event even though Diane has just went through major surgery. This cookoff is on it's way to becoming one of the premier cookoffs east of the Mississippi. So don't delay, time is running out. Send your entry in or enter on-line or give Diane a call and tell her your coming so she can make plans on setting up judges, etc.

BLUEGRASS REGIONAL CHILI COOKOFF - August 18^th

Location--Good ol Days Farm, 544 Old Frankfort Pike, Versailles, KY (Lexington).

Red chili $1000 win,$300 place, and $100 show.

Verde $300 win, $100 place, and $50 show.

Salsa is $100 win. Peoples choice will be awarded.

Schedule:

8-9:30 set up and registration

9:30 cooks meeting

10:30 Chili Verde- light fire

12:00 Red Chili- light fire

12:00 Turn in salsa for judging

1:30 Turn in Chili Verde for judging

3:00 Turn in Red Chili for judging

Winners announced ASAP.

COOKS PARTY--FRIDAY NIGHT 7-9 P.M. at Good ol Days Farm. JOHN WILL BE COOKING HIS GREAT BARBEQUE AND COOKS ARE INVITED TO BRING A SIDE DISH FOR SHARING. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!

For more info contact Larry or Diane Lentz 859-223-2867 (Chiligal1@aol.com)

or Faye Mulligan 859-223-1319 (jm28261@yahoo.com)

http://www.goodoldays.com/

Studio Diner Cookoff, July 28th, Revisited

Studio Diner is a restaurant, owned by Jim Phillips, that replicates an oldfashioned dining car. It is adjacent to Stu Segall Film Studio in northeast San Diego and was the site of a truly memorable chili cookoff on Saturday, July 28th. The Film Studio is comprised of about twenty acres of buildings and stages and sites, which are unique and worth a story all their own. This complex is also used as a training site for San Diego SWAT teams, as well as for training Special Forces troops in maneuvers such as clearing buildings in an enemy town.

Jim Phillips had done his homework well and was prepared for his event. He has been attending major cookoffs in Southern California for over a year, beginning with Western Regional a couple of years ago up to and including California State in 2007, to prepare for chairing his own cookoff. His event was was well organized and very cook-friendly.

The charity supported by this cookoff was the local "Injured Marine Fund" raising money for local Marine Corps families. The charity itself supported the event by selling tshirts and holding a raffle to raise funds for their own benefit.

One of the enticements to attend a cookoff in San Diego is the fact that the average temperature year round is in the 70s. July 28th was a lovely day, with blatently displayed patriotism and camaraderie among the cooks and public. We were visited by a small contingent from the Marine Band, who played for half an hour or so. We were also visited by wounded Marines from Balboa Naval Hospital and some recovered/recovering Marines as well.

The winners of this cookoff have already been reported. What is worth mentioning, however, is the fact that the winner of the Traditional Red Chili contest, Mike Ford, donated his winnings of $500.00 back to the charity. The winner of the Chili Verde contest, Sachiko Brecke, also donated back her winnings of $300.00. We are told that a couple of other winners also donated their winnings back to the charity. Unfortunately, we do not know who they were and cannot give them credit for their generosity.

Jim Phillips was among the judging panel at Western Regional Chili Cookoff yesterday. He brought Studio Diner hats and tshirts to acknowledge the help of many people in making his event a great success. He announced that they were able to write a check to the Injured Marines Fund for more than $2,000.00 as a result of their efforts! Way to go, Jim! With a Regional cookoff next year, you should easily be able to surpass this success.

Illinois State Fair Regional Cookoff

It's still not too late to sign up for the Illinois State Fair Regional Cookoff to be held August 19. This contest will feature Red, Verde, and Salsa contests with a prize pool of over $1,200. The cookoff will be under a large tent and tables will be provided. There will be a band performing during the cookoff, and other entertainment throughout the Fair (http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/index.php). As usual, we expect large crowds during the cookoff, and this year the weather looks like a typical sunny, warm August day. All winners qualify for the ICS World Championship this October.

Please plan on joining us. Call (217 622-3805) or e-mail (chilliexperience@insightbb.com) for details. Don't be shut out – sign up soon.

Larry Eastep
3920 Surry Place
Springfield IL 62711

Michigan State Championship

Dear Chili cooks
Dick is right, We NEED you to help keep the Cook-offs fun and great for the
charities we work for. The Michigan State Championship held August 19th. in Taylor Michigan is in need of cooks for every category. There is cash and great trophies for the
winners plus, you know, a spot in the world.
Please e-mail me leobuk@wowway.com if you would like to cook.

Thank you Leo Buk

.
WOW! Homepage (http://www.wowway.com)

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