TUESDAY - November 20, 2007

RIVER RESORTS REGIONAL

This is a very unique cookoff. It is best attended in an RV. Park your rig and cook right under your awning. How much fun is that?! This was the 21st consecutive cookoff to be held at Lost Lake Resort. (No, Fred, I'm not going there---annual or whatever.)

The weather could not have been more beautiful---temperatures in the mid 80s and absolutely no wind all weekend! Cooks and judges began arriving in their RVs on Thursday. In fact, when we came in about 2:00 pm, there were already several in place, claiming "their" traditional spots.

Friday is cooking day, as we serve breakfast to all of the cooks and judges, and some of the "groupies", too, on Saturday morning. While Captain Jim Maehl was setting up the cooks, Bill Ray and Bob Dyer cooked all day, preparing maple bacon, sausages and potatoes for the morning meal. They were assisted by Larry Jones (or at least by his stove). Joel Erickson, who has been a breakfast cook in the past, was sorely missed, having been "grounded" by his foot doctor from attending this event. While this cooking was going on, Karen Ray held a "hen party", cutting fresh fruit for the morning salad and preparing the palate cleansers for the cookoff. She was assisted by Patti Summers, Patricia Sanchez, Anne Marie Jones and Willma Maehl.

We are lucky to be able to rent a lovely mobile home at the resort. Our housemates were Barry and Sylvia Steinberg, Jim Stoddard and Steve Wolf. We shared food and camaraderie on Friday nighr, and then-----at 4:40 am on Sunday morning, Bill nudged me in bed and said, "Honey, where are the biscuits for the biscuits and gravy?" Oops---they were in Riverside, in our freezer! Fortunately, Safeway in Parker opened at 5:00 am; fortunately, they had a case of biscuits; and, fortunately, Steve Wolf was willing to travel to Parker to get them!

As we heated the food in the ovens of various motorhomes, Armando Sanchez served Bloody Marys, Mimosas and Screwdrivers to all comers. There was also a huge pot of coffee for those who preferred that beverage. Finally, everyone full of good food and drink, we proceeded to have a chili cookoff.

One of the features of this cookoff is an optional People's Choice Chili contest. About half of the red chili contestants brought chili for the public tasting. We sold tasting kits for $3 each, and raised a total of $990. The winner of the contest, by ballot, receives half of the proceeds, and our special charity, English Springer Rescue America, receives the other half. Since it was so close, we added $10 to make it an even $1,000! Of the ten contestants who furnished People's Choice Chili, the top two contestants garnered almost 75% of the votes, and the winner won by a margin of 12 votes!

We were honored to have a very special contestant from Cincinnati, OH compete in our cookoff. He was George Phelps, "Chili Rock Cafe", who happened to be in California on personal business. George finished fifth in the Chili Verde contest, and won a trophy for Best Booth!

Our Chief Judge, Tony Dalbis, is fighting a bout with cancer. Bob Dinnewith of the Lake Havasu Chili Checkers graciously stepped in as Chief Judge. Donnie Gordon, the Assistant Chief Scorekeeper at the World's Championship Chili Cookoff, served as Chief Scorekeeper. After all of the ballots were tallied, the winners were:

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Best Booth:

3rd, Ron Harris, Hillbilly Chili

2nd, Tony Inglese, Wannatouchama Chili

1st, George Phelps, Chili Rock Cafe

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People's Choice Chili:

2nd, Tony Inglese, Wannatouchama Chili

1st, Bill Woodring, Blue Sky Chili

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Salsa (11 contestants):

3rd, Barbara Nelson, NV

2nd, Cindy Haught, NV

1st, Patricia Sanchez, CA

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Chili Verde (13 contestants):

3rd, Nancy Swenberger, AZ

2nd, Patricia Sanchez, CA

1st, Paul Whitney, AZ

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Traditional Red Chili (21 contestants):

5th Paul Whitney, AZ

4th Jim Stoddard, TX

3rd. Bob Dyer, CA

2nd, Mike Austin, CA

1st, Bill Woodring, CA

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Thanks to all of you who supported us at this event! Love you all!

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