TUESDAY - May 25, 2010

Old Town Elk Grove – River City Regional

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WOW the weather was GREAT!! It can be over 100 degrees in Sacramento in May with the normal being about 88 degrees. We were very fortunate that it was a mild 74 degrees and sunny with a light breeze most of the day. It wasn't until we got close to announcing the winners that the clouds moved in and the cold winds came in. We had rain and showers all around but none fell here in Elk Grove.

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This being our 3^rd year here in Elk Grove proved to be the BEST so far. The entire street here in Old Town was filled with thousands of happy folks. The officials clocked the crowd at around 15,000. The street fair was extended an additional block in each direction with more vendors, free things for the kids and a West Main Stage and an East Main Stage, with half a dozen smaller stages up and down the street.

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Kathy and I would like to thank all the ICS Chiliheads that came out to support the River City Regional Chili Cookoff, the cooks, the wranglers, the judges, the volunteers and scorekeepers. We were very honored and blessed to have two current World Championship cooks with us this year. Bob Hall, our current Chili Verde Champion from Taylorville, IL, was out visiting his brother and came out to help us judge. Jim Watson from Placerville, CA, our current Salsa Champion, was here cooking Red Chili. Other past Champions joining us were: Margo Knudson (1987 WCCC), JR Knudson (2006 WCCC), Ed Pierczynski (1992 WCCC) Dione Cooley (2002 Salsa) and Kathy Hipskind (2004 WCCC)

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We'd also like to thank Bob and Julie Grayson, Ed and Mary Pierczynski, Dione and Skip Cooley for their assistance in the Judging area. We'd like to extend a special thanks to Cliff Moody for his continued support and belief in the River City Regional Cookoff. Without his help, this cookoff would not be happening. His sponsorship program with IGA Supermarkets, Markstein (Budweiser) Distributing and The Eagle Radio is instrumental to our existence.

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SO here are the winners:

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Salsa

8 Contestants

3^rd Place: Jim Beaver (CA)

2^nd Place: Lynn Robinson (CA)

1^st Place: Skip Cooley (NV)

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Chili Verde

7 Contestants

3^rd Place: Bobby Santos (CA)

2^nd Place: John Jepson (CA)

1^st Place: Laurie Boisseranc (CA)

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Red Chili

13 Contestants

3 way tie for 3^rd

5^th Place: Sonny Allen (NV) 8 points

4^th Place: Steve Atkinson (NV) 8 points

3^rd Place: Ron Boisseranc (CA) 8 points

2^nd Place: Margo Knudson (CA) 14 points

1^st Place: Dora Jepson (CA) 17 points

Dora has been helping John cook for many years.

This is her first time qualifying for WCCC

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PS: For those of you that have been asking. Margo is doing fine. She is home and recovering nicely.

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The one sour note of the entire day was as we were leaving; Margo fell and bumped her head pretty hard on the pavement. She said she was fine, but we convinced her to go to the hospital and have things checked out. She had a head CT scan and after a couple of hours observation, the Dr. gave her a clean bill of health and sent her home. She is pretty sore, but doing fine. She wanted to thank you all for the best wishes and prayers.

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Huntington Beach Elks #2

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Well, the weather didn't hold up from the previous day as we had hoped. The cooks fought off winds all day long, even though the sun was shining. We had 19 red cooks, 7 verdes and 7 salsas competing on the second day. The Elk members did a fantastic job all day long selling tasting kits, conducting raffles and continually going around making sure the cooks were well taken care of. A big thanks to Dave York, the Exalted Ruler for allowing us to "invade" his lodge, and, of course, Ron Courreges, the Chairman, for coordinating both cookoffs. That was a very big task to undertake and he did a fantastic job as always. We can't say enough about George Beaver who kept the judging area running smoothly with beer, water, condiments and anything else we needed. We love you, George!

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Thanks to everyone who came out to judge and help, and to the scorekeeping crew, Bobbie Gaul, Mary Ellen Weber and Sylvia Steinberg. Thanks also to Barry Steinberg, Mike "Ughlee" Austin and Norm Gaul for helping in the judging area. Also, thank you "Ughlee" for announcing the winners. We know how much you enjoy that "job."

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And now for the winners:

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Best Booth – Steve and Tish Crawford – Crawford's Crankin' Chili

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People's Choice

3rd – Ron Courreges

2nd – Charles Harber

1st – Russell Barnes

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Salsa

3rd - Karen Angotti

2nd– Patricia Sanchez

1st – Armando Sanchez

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Verde – THREE WAY TIE FOR FIRST!

This was a close contest – points ranged from 9 to 12

3rd– Russell Barnes

2nd – Mark Hammes

1st – Patricia Sanchez

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Red Chili

5th Honorable mention – Tony Angotti and Tish Crawford

4th – Honorable mention – Susie Decker

3rd – Don Hammes

2nd – Dick Swenberger (made the trip worthwhile!)

1st – Jim Beaty (It's about time!)

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Congratulations to all the winners and a huge thanks to all the cooks who showed up. It was a great time and we hope to be back next year.

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Dennis and Allene Macklin (Chief Judge and Scorekeeper)

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Inland Empire Regional

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Hello Chili Cooks,

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Anybody out there? From the entries we're getting for Inland Empire Regional this coming Saturday, it doesn't seem like it! At this point we only have three entries for Chili Verde. So, if you're planning to cook and just haven't bothered to let us know (especially chili verde), please drop us an email or give us a call to let us know. The sponsors of this cookoff give $3,525.00 to the ICS chili cooks. They deserve a better turn-out than this.

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I know that there have been five weekends in May and a cookoff every weekend in Southern California and back-to-backs last weekend. But, at the rate we're losing Regional cookoffs in Southern California, we really need to support the ones that are left.

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OK, I'll get off my soapbox now. Hope to see you on Saturday.

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Karen Ray

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MAIN STREET TEHACHAPI CHILI COOKOFF

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Come One, Come All

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Come Cook or Judge

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This is a GREAT event right on Main Street

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June 19, 2010

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All events qualify for World in N.H.

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Red - Entry $35 + 1 Gal.

1st $500

2nd $300

3rd $100

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Verde - Entry $25

1st $300

2nd $200

3rd $100

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Salsa - Entry $10

1st $100

2nd $50

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Please apply on line or contact, Michelle Vance (661) 333-5932, mainstreet93561@sbcglobal.net or Barry Steinberg (818) 887-1467, ripchili@sbcglobal

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Northern Arizona Back to Backs

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June 12th - 27th Annual Route 66 Regional in Flagstaff, Arizona

June 13th - 39th Annual Arizona State in Payson, Arizona

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WE NEED COOKS!!

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Only 1 1/2 months away. Plan on coming to cook in beautiful Thorpe Park, in Flagstaff. Then, take a breath taking drive to Payson, to cook in front of the Mazatzal Casino, the next day. Great trophies, and even better prize money, both days.

Register online at the ICS website. Contact Paul Whitney, Golfnchili@aol.com for more info.

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Bob Dinneweth - Chief Judge - Flagstaff

Bob Plager - Chief Judge - Payson

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