TUESDAY - June 16, 2009

ICS ARIZONA STATE COOKOFF

.

Mazatzal Casino Hotel in Payson, AZ was the site of the 38^th Annual ICS Arizona State Cookoff on Sunday, June 14, 2009. The venue presents one of the most pleasant experiences for any chili cookoff. The new all-suites hotel is outstanding and perfect for chili cooks who must find a space in the hotel for all of their chili and salsa making supplies. The Mazatzal restaurants serve great food and the casino is just right for those who wish to try their luck. The chili cookoff is held in the parking area directly in front of the casino. The Mazatzal staff, directed by contest chairperson, Linda Mathiesen, had everything set up and prepared for the cooks' early morning arrival. The weather was sunny and beautiful with light breezes to keep the temps in the low 80s.

.

Chief Judge and Scorekeeper, Dick and Nancy Swenberger, presided over the judging. They were assisted by Linda, Terri and other Mazatzal Events staff. There was a great mix of judges with some new judges and also many who were familiar with judging. A special thanks goes out to Sandi Lampinen who came up from Glendale, AZ to judge, but stepped in to help Nancy with the scoring when other scoring assistants were unable to attend the cookoff. Sandi's help was crucial and so appreciated. Sandi's husband, Ed, and fellow judges Nina and Doug Buss also helped Dick deliver the competition cups to the cooks and lay out the ballots for after-cookoff perusal by the cooks. Thanks to all.

.

Along with seasoned cooks from Arizona, California, and Nebraska, there were several new cooks this year as well as a few returning cooks who haven't cooked for some time but came back to try their luck again. The atmosphere was festive and hopeful as all cooks prepared their specially-guarded recipes and tweaked their final entries.

.

And the results were:

.

Best Booth - Leeroy Watson – Pine, AZ and daughter Michelle Summerville of Mesa, AZ

.

People's Choice -

Honorable Mention – LeeRoy Watson – Pine, AZ

1^st Place -Norma Kemp – Payson, AZ

.

Salsa –

5^th Place – Paul Whitney – Flagstaff, AZ

4^th Place – Greg Virant – Omaha, NE

3^rd Place – Evelyn Flores – Tucson, AZ

2^nd Place - Mike Herrera – Mesa, AZ

1^st Place - Pam Wright – Flagstaff, AZ

.

Chili Verde -

5^th Place – LeeRoy Watson – Pine, AZ

4^th Place – Pam Wright – Flagstaff, AZ

3^rd Place – Mike Ford – La Mirada, CA

2^nd Place – Greg Virant – Omaha, NE

1^st Place – Craig Stanton – Clarkdale, AZ

.

Red Chili -

5^th Place – Dave Wright – Flagstaff, AZ

4^th Place – Nick Ray – Surprise, AZ

3^rd Place – Eddie La Cross – Peoria, AZ

2^nd Place – Bill Flores – Tucson, AZ

1^st Place – Paul Whitney – Flagstaff, AZ

.

.

.

Knights of Columbus Dist., Simi Valley, CA

.

The weather in Southern California the past 3 weeks has certantly lived up to the name June Gloom; dreay, overdcast skies, temps in the LOW 70's but everything changed on Sunday. The Chili Gods were smiling down on Simi Valley for the St. Rose of Lima Cokkoff.

The Knights of Columbus were there to make sure eveyone knew where to go and had, most importantly, everything we needed for the judging area. We were back in our "classroom" and, after I got a lesson on how the thermostat worked, we had air conditioning!! Thanks Lee.

There were 10 Red cooks, 8 Verde cooks, and 7 Salsa competitors.There were 7 People's Choice only cooks, so it was a HUGE sucess for the Knights who do so much in for the community.

.

The winners:

People's Choice:

3rd Mitch Woldmen

2nd Nita Myzskowski (I hope I spelled it correctly)

1st Robert Truelsen

.

Salsa:

3rd Robert Trueslen

2nd Steve Crawford

1st Marion Donato

.

Verde:

3rd Jim Rasey

2nd Steve Crawford

1st Marion Donato - A very happy lady!!

.

Red:

3rd Geraldine Villalpardo

2nd Jim Rasey

1st Paul LaRoche A Double District Winner

.

On behalf of Joel and Beverly Erickson, Chief Judge and scorekeeper, I want to thank all who came out to make this a very sucessful event.

See you all next year!!

.

MaryEllen

.

.

.

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

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

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