TUESDAY - Nov. 24, 2009

RIVER RESORTS REGIONAL

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The 23^rd Annual Lost Lake Cookoff (aka River Resorts Regional) is in the history books. The saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" really applies to this event. So many of the same folks attend year after year that you could almost call it a cult thing.

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We arrived on Thursday afternoon to find that we had been preceded by Bob & Ellen Dyer, Ron & Maggie Harris, Jim & Wilma Maehl, Karl & Virginia Smith and Richard & Marty Leitner. We were again privileged to be able to rent a lovely double-wide mobile home very close to the cookoff site, which we shared this year with Steve Wolf, Jim Stoddard and Russ & Judy Barnes. Several more of the chili participants arrived with their trailers and RVs Thursday evening and all day Friday.

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Friday is dedicated to preparing for the breakfast that we serve to cooks, judges and groupies on Saturday morning. It is quite a challenge to cook bacon, sausage, potatoes, eggs and biscuits & gravy out of doors and serve it hot to about 75 hungry Chiliheads. There was a bit of a delay in getting the preparation started due to what was at first believed to be a faulty propane grill but which turned out to be an "operator problem"---something to do with when to turn on the propane valves to the tank and to the burners. After the problem was solved, all went smoothly. Everything but the eggs was precooked and packaged up to be reheated in the morning.

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While the men were cooking the gals were also busy, making a mixed fruit salad to be served with the breakfast (with or without champagne). Then they put together 500 tasting kits for sale on Saturday to the public chili tasters.

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Before the breakfast is served at 8:00 am those who care to imbibe are treated to bloody Mary's, mimosas or screwdrivers by Armando Sanchez. There is also a large pot of coffee brewed and waiting for those who prefer it. Then on to the serious business of competing for chili, chili verde and salsa. Throughout the day Steve Porter oversees the contests for Junior Miss Chili Pepper, Miss Chili Pepper, Junior Mr. Hot Sauce, Mr. Hot Sauce and Shoot 'n' Holler. The crowd of River folks enjoys all of it, including the chili tasting. People's Choice Chili is optional here. Most of the cooks bring some, if only to allow them to interact with the public, who tend to be a young, fun-loving bunch of folks. Steve Porter remarked that, after 23 years, the guys and gals who used to compete in the Junior contests are now competing in Miss Chili Pepper and Mr. Hot Sauce and entering their own children in the Junior contests.

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Bob Dinnewith officiated as Chief Judge with Donnie Gordon as the Chief Scorekeeper, assisted this year by Louise Dinnewith, Sharon Ayers and Mary Lou Corrao. Jim & Wilma Maehl and Dennis Macklin helped out where ever they were needed. Allene Macklin lent her efforts to helping with the sale of tasting kits. After a long, warm, lovely day at the Colorado River the winners were finally determined, and they were:

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Best First-Time Cook: Joe Cole

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Salsa (15 entries):

3^rd, Russell Barnes, CA

2^nd, Jim Stoddard, TX

1^st, Barbara Ward, CA

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Chili Verde (12 entries):

3^rd, Russell Barnes, CA

2^nd, Patricia Sanchez, CA

1^st, Barbara Ward, CA

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People's Choice Chili:

The way this works at Lost Lake is that the proceeds from the sale of the tasting kits is split equally between the winning cook and the charity. This year we took in $966.00 from the sale of tasting kits. For about the last hour of the day, there was a tie for first place which was finally broken by one vote. The results were:

2^nd, Lisa Miller, a new competitor who cooked and served chili verde

1^st, Tony Inglese, winning $483.00 and successfully defending his title from last year.

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Traditional Red Chili (26 entries):

5^th, Dave Thomas, CA

4^th, Charlie Ward, CA

3^rd, Mike Austin, CA (who has won this cookoff three times)

2^nd, Kathy Plager, CO

1^st, Bob Plager, CO

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This was the first time for Russell Barnes and the Plagers to compete at Lost Lake. We think they may come back!

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Submitted by Karen Ray

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