Thursday, December 20, 2007

THURSDAY - December 20, 2007

REGGIE MILROY (MEXICAN NATIONALS)
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I just received an email from Ann Whiting (Mexican Nationals). Reggie Milroy for many years, was instrumental in the success of the Mexican Nationals with Ann. I paste Ann's email for you;
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Friends
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If you have not been informed Reggie Milroy passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday Dec.18 in his home. Bob Morris found him and called. I do not know what plans are in place. His son is coming down soon and I'll keep you informed of any pertinent information. Loren
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Please keep the family in your prayers during this difficult time.
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Jim Stoddard
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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

WEDNESDAY - December 19, 2007

Bill "Gumby" Donovan

From Mad Mike Freedman

I did a little research today re:Bill "Gumby" Donovan and if you go to http://www.jewishhospitalcincinnati.com/ you'll see a section where it says "send an e-card" towards the bottom of the page. He is room 3315. If he moves they said they will forward all cards to him.

Maybe all the chili cooks could take a minute and send Gumby an e-card and it will make him feel a little better knowing that we're all thinking about him and rooting for him!

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Madly,

Mad Mike

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JALISCO STATE AND MEXICAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
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Preparations are underway for the Jalisco State and Mexican National Championships in Ajijic, Mexico. It is imperative that those of you who are going please contact Ann Whiting at acorona_mx@hotmail.com as soon as possible.
She is worried that there will not be much of a turn out. It appears this may be the last year that this event will be held. I am working with several others to try and keep it alive. Your participation, therefore, is vital.
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The schedule;
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14 Feb (Thursday) PM: cooks registration and gathering at Nuevo Posada (Tequila and margarita tastings). Great place to have dinner.
15 Feb (Friday): Jalisco State Verde
16 Feb (Saturday): Jalisco State Red
17 Feb (Sunday): Mexican National Red
Probably a salsa competition if we get 7 cooks
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Most cooks plan on an early afternoon arrival Thursday and leave Monday. Some extend their stay and travel to Puerto Vallarta for some r & r.
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Timid to travel to Mexico? Don't be.
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You NEED a passport. Frozen, cubed meat and spices are no problem getting through customs. Just check the box that states you have "agricultural products". Frozen green chiles will probably be ok, but if they get confiscated, there's plenty at the markets. Taxis are the mode of transportation and cheap. About $5 anywhere in town. You will fly into Guadalajara (GDL), Mexico. Get a taxi at the booth at the front part of the airport. About $50 to Ajijic. Contact Ann Whiting for hotel info, or check on line for Bed and Breakfasts. You don't need a stove. Corona provides stoves and fuel. Tables, chairs and covers are also provided. You just need to bring a wind break for your stove. Cardboard and duct tape works GREAT. How simple is THAT?!
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The whole town turns out for this competition. Many food and craft vendors and events go on all day, for all the days of the competition. Dog demonstrations, folklorico dancing, etc. This event raises quite a bit of cash for the Ajijic charities and orphanages.
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Like massages? How about $20 for an hour? First class restaurants? Ajijic has them and at affordable prices.
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So plan on coming down. Questions? Want some pictures or a photoshow? Contact me, Jim Stoddard at alienpilot3@gmail.com.
Or Steve Tomasek at snbchili@aol.com. But act fast. Ann is getting worried that few people have signed up and it's a lot of work to put this cookoff on.
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Jim Stoddard

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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

TUESDAY - December 18, 2007

Laughlin Reg. & Nevada State

NO PEOPLES CHOICE CHILI
The health Dept says any body handing out Chili will have to comply to the rules posted. .As Fred would say the chili is for the JUDGES. I'm sure you know the rest of the story.

We won't have Peoples choice Chili
Thanks
Dawn

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SAD NEWS

I am really sad to report that we have lost another Chilihead. Barbara Jordan passed away Saturday Night at 8:30 PM of a massive heart attack. Barbara had just celebrated her 80th birthday in June of this year. I am sure everyone will remember her as supportive of all chili cooks, and friendly to everyone she came in contact with. Her and Jim were married for 55 years.

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If you would like to send condolences, Jim's address is:

Jim Jordan,

8545 Mission Gorge Rd, SP 320,

Santee, CA 92071.

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There will be a memorial service held at the Featheringill Mortuary located at 6322 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115 at 2 PM on Thursday the 20th.

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Monday, December 17, 2007

MONDAY - December 17, 2007

Bill and Gail Donovan update

Many thanks to all of you for your cards, prayers, and for keeping Larry and me in your thoughts the past 9 months as I have been battling breast cancer. All of your support has helped me maintain a positive approach and attitude. Soon, I will be undergoing 6 1/2 weeks of radiation to finalize my treatment and I am beginning to see the light at the end of what has seemingly been a very long tunnel.
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Now, as my treatment is ending, we all have a very dear friend and fellow chilihead who also needs all of your support and prayers as his journey is just beginning. Gail Donovan called me a few days ago to tell me that she was at the hospital with Bill ("Gumby"). It seems that he had not been feeling well the past month or so and had been having cold type symptoms. They went into the emergency room and after doing some blood work, within 2 hours were told that he has cancer (Acute myelogenous leukemia) and will undergo chemotherapy immediately. He will be hospitalized for at least 6 weeks.
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Please join in with my family and I in wishing Bill a quick recovery.
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Thoughts and cards may be sent to:
Bill "Gumby" Donovan room 3320
c/o Jewish Kenwood Hospital
47777 East Gailbreath Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45236

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I will continue to be in touch with Gail and bring you updates.
Blessings--
Diane Lentz

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Laughin Reg & Nevada State

Desert Dawn has asked that ALL the Cooks planning on attending the January Back to Back

Chili Contests be prepared to comply with the Health Department Rules

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Temporary Food Establishment Quick Reference Checklist

Post a copy of this checklist in the food booth and use it to ensure that your booth is

ready for inspection by the time specified on your permit application. Failure to set up properly

may result in denial of the health permit to operate or limiting the types of foods that may be

served.

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____ All food must be obtained from approved sources and prepared at the booth the day of

the event or in an approved food establishment. Do not store/prepare food at home.

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____ Provide a handwashing station at the booth. A portable sink or gravity

fed water dispenser (minimum 5 gallon water supply), dispensing liquid

soap, disposable towels, trash can and a waste water catch container is

required. Location must be provided to properly dispose of the waste water.

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􀂾 Gloves and hand sanitizers DO NOT replace handwashing.

____ Wiping cloths must be stored in a bucket of an approved sanitizing solution.

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􀂾 50-100 ppm bleach or 200 ppm quaternary ammonium "QUAT"

checked with the appropriate chemical test strip.

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____ The booth must have sufficient equipment to maintain Potentially

Hazardous Foods (PHFs) at 40°F or below or 140°F or above:

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􀂾 Use an ice chest with ice not used for consumption or mechanical refrigeration.

􀂾 Use cooking equipment that can reheat food to 165°F.

􀂾 A metal stem or digital thermometer must be on site

to check food temperatures frequently.

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____ Food must be protected from contamination:

􀂾 Keep food covered and stored at least 6" off the ground.

􀂾 Keep raw meat and equipment/utensils used on raw meat away

from ready to serve foods.

􀂾 Use a separate supply of ice for consumption in beverages.

􀂾 Dispense food with proper utensils.

􀂾 Provide clean, sanitized equipment/utensils every 4 hours.

􀂾 Store chemicals away from food and food contact surfaces.

􀂾 Keep children, animals and ill workers out of the food prep areas.

􀂾 No smoking or eating in the food area, except for drinks with lids

and straws stored away from foods and food contact surfaces.

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____ Dispose of solid and liquid waste properly and as needed.

􀂾 Wastewater must be disposed into an approved sewer or holding tank.

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Cooking

Temps

165°F

reheats,

poultry

155°F:

ground meats

pork

145°F:

whole meats

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Sunday, December 16, 2007

SUNDAY - December 16, 2007

Southern California Holiday Party
Southern California chili cooks celebrated the Holidays in great style today when Mike and Bonnie Ford opened their beautiful Orange County home to us for their Annual Holiday Party/Practice Chili Cookoff. Since this is the second one (pay attention, Fred Summers) we can safely call it Annual---right?!?
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I think that Bonnie has been decorating their home at least since Halloween! Many of the decorations are obviously family heirlooms, which will be proudly passed along to children and grandchildren. Each room shone with very special treasures to be admired.
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When we arrived, we were greeted with Bloody Mary's from several sources, and Mike and Bonnie's kitchen table was filled with assorted bagels and muffins. We had been asked to bring hors d'oeuvres and, as chili cooks will, we complied generously. The covered pool table in the dining room groaned with handmade sushi, spinach dip, seafood mold, Mexican dip, deviled eggs, sausage/cheese/crackers plates, shrimp with cocktail sauce, pulled pork, barbecued ribs, homemade cookies, homemade candies and meringue and cream pies! And then we had to cook and judge chili---oh, my!!
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Practice cookoffs are always a good chance to try something new or to hone a tried and true recipe. The competition offered cooks an opportunity to work on their Chili Verde and Traditional Red Chili recipes. A total of thirteen cooks took up the challenge---four cooked Chili Verde and nine cooked Red Chili.
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We had also been asked to bring ten California Lottery scratchers for a drawing. This contribution offered a chance to win twenty scratchers, as well as a couple of other nice prizes. Of course, not everyone won, but many were recipients of twenty lottery scratchers. I was one of the winners; the packet that I chose happened to be the odd one, with only ten tickets. However, I can't complain---one of my scratchers was a $100 winner! Bill also won a twenty-scratcher packet, but his was zero for twenty!
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These practice cookoffs typically include two judging's, to simulate a preliminary and a final table. The cooks themselves judge the preliminary table, with the "judges" deciding the outcome of the cookoff. When the winners were announced, Mike and Bonnie had provided many lovely prizes for the winning cooks. The winners were all announced then allowed to choose which prizes caught their fancy. All prizes were chili-themed and very lovely. And the winners were:
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Chili Verde:
4th, Honorable Mention, Mitch Moody
3rd (tied for 2nd), Don Hammes
2nd, Allene Macklin
1st, Bob Dyer
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Traditional Red Chili
5th place tie, Honorable Mention, Karl Smith and Mike Stewart
4th, Honorable Mention, Nibs Waters
3rd, Bill Ray
2nd, Eileen Beaty
1st, Mike Austin
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