MONDAY - June 15, 2009

26th Annual Route 66 Regional Chili Cookoff

What a glorious day! Temps in the high 60's, perfect for being outside, a little breezy, but no tents went flying(Thanks in part to a Flagstaff Ordinance that requires weights on all 4 corners or a tent) We were down on cooks compared to past years, due to ICS scheduling, good luck so far this year by many of our regulars and other unfortunate circumstances. With that said, we had the best crowd we ever had and boy, oh boy, did they go through the chili fast! Our local teams made much more than the one gallon required and still blasted through the extra in no time. Our vendors were all happy with the crowd. (how often does that happen?) We sold at least 100 more tasting kits than ever sold in the past. We had cooks from Nebraska, Nevada and California joining the Arizona cooks from the Phoenix area, Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City, Pine, and of course a good local contingent from Flagstaff. Bob and Louise Dinnnewith did a great job as Chief Judge and Chief Scorekeeper, with help from their regular crew and also Val G., who came to our event for the first time ever. Thank you for all your hard work! When it was all said and done, cooked and sent in, the results were as follows.

.

Best Booth - Steve Wade, Bullhead City, AZ

.

Peoples Choice - Jonathan Allen, Flagstaff, AZ

.

Salsa-12 Cooks

3rd Place-Mike Herrera, Mesa AZ

2nd Place-Dick Swenberger, Mesa, AZ (Won the Tiebreaker)

1st Place-Lynn Kost Virant, Omaha, NE (Got the Hat trick)

.

Chili Verde-12 Cooks

3rd Place-Pam Wright, Flagstaff, AZ

2nd Place-Lee Roy Watson, Pine, AZ

1st Place-Nancy Swenberger, Mesa, AZ

.

Traditional Red Chili-10 Cooks

3rd Place-Greg Virant, Omaha, NE

2nd Place-Dave Wright, Flagstaff, AZ (Also won best Local Red)

1st Place-Mike Ford, La Mirada, CA

.

.

.

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

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

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