Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cookoff
June 6, 2010
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The 26th Annual Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cookoff calls itself the biggest one-day chili cookoff in the World. Some would argue that, but it may be the largest in the Western United States. At any rate, a very large crowd attended the event on a perfect day, with a high temperature of 77 degrees. In the sun it felt warmer, but in the shade of the covered judging area, with a light breeze passing through, it was very, very comfortable.
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Looking outward at the diverse crowd, the estimate of 40,000 plus people was believable. They came to sample the more than fifty chilis available from both local folks who presented only People's Choice chili and ICS members who cooked up traditional red chili along with their People's Choice. There was also a Restaurant Division with seven or eight competitors. Interspersed with the cooks were about 200 vendors with food, public service information and merchandise. Booths that caught my eye while we were numbering chili booths were one selling items embellished with Swarovski crystals and another selling very lifelike little furry animal replicas. Fortunately, we were busy enough with the cookoff details that I was not able to revisit either of them later.
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The City of Tustin has had lots of practice putting on this event, and it shows. They are very, very organized with their paperwork and attention to detail. They are always looking for ways to improve the ICS portion of the cookoff and are very open to suggestions. There is a probability that Chili Verde will be added to the list of contests for 2011. They are also very gracious hosts. Upon our arrival we were greeted with Starbucks coffee and assorted doughnuts and pastries. At lunchtime we were served nice box lunches with a sandwich, chips, fruit and a cookie. Beer, water and soft drinks were cold and available all day.
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This year, for the first time, the cookoff offered a salsa contest. Only eight competitors entered their products for judging, but we feel certain that this will improve in the future, as the local people become more familiar with it. As we placed the salsa cups on the judging table and numbered them, we immediately noticed that, rather than the usual pico de gallo style entries we are used to seeing, many of these dishes had a unique look. It was refreshing to see salsas that were a bit different. In the end, though, the pico de gallo prevailed, and the winners were:
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3rd, Jennifer Goodman, Good Man Chili (formerly aka Jennifer Porter)
2nd, Boris Kiena, Honky Tonk Outlaw Chili
1st, Charlie Blosfield, Fired Up Chili
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The cookoff was officiated by Dennis Macklin, with Allene Macklin as the Chief Scorekeeper. This is a big event to coordinate, and they did very well in their first time. Allene was assisted by Karen Ray, Mary Ellen Weber and Sylvia Steinberg.
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Among the 24 cooks who submitted traditional red chili was Dick Swenberger of Mesa, Arizona. He was accompanied by his wife, Nancy. It was wonderful to see Nancy looking very well and, apparently, feeling well, after her long bout with serious illness. An impressive panel of regular ICS judges were joined by the Mayor of Tustin, the Mayor Pro Tem of Tustin, a City Council member, the Community Service Commissioner and the food writer for the Orange County Register newspaper . A total of 23 judges selected their choices from the entries presented for ICS traditional red chili. Of the 138 points available, 97 were garnered by the top five entries. In a very close decision the winners were:
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5th, 13 points, Charlie Blosfield, Fired Up Chili
4th, 20 points, Mike Hulka, Beehive Chili. Mike is a previous two-time winner of this cookoff.
3rd, 20 points, Tony Austin, Lone Lee Chili. Tony is the son on Mike "Ughlee" Austin
2nd, 21 points, Kenneth King, Buckeye Chili. Ken is also a previous winner of this cookoff.
1st, 23 points, Dick Swenberger will advance to the World's Championship Chili Cookoff in Manchester, New Hampshire.
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Congratulations to Dick and to Charlie. See you there!
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Submitted by Karen Ray
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New Hampshire State Cookoff
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All week long, there were reports that Saturday the 5th would be a "washout" and the rain would be the order of the day. Well, the sun came out and the music gods smiled down on the field as the chili cooks set up and the various bands from Alverne High School Music Program prepared to entertain us. They are the highlight of the New Hampshire "Bronco Bustin'" Chili Fiesta. This year, with the excitement of having the World's Championship just up the road in Manchester, we had more cooks than ever before. The Alverne Friends of Music do a great job putting on this Festival. They have lots to do for the kids, some fabulous gift baskets to take chances on and of course, the various bands and choral groups. The judging tent was busy with various ties and lots of entries in the different categories. The rain didn't come 'til well into the late evening and though it was warm and a bit humid, it turned out to be a great day with some very happy winners.
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Best Booth
Top Hat Chili – Don Ouellette
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People's Choice
Dish Rag Chili – David Daigle
Salsa
Tie for 3rd
4th – Jerry Buma, MA
3rd – Don Ouellette, NH
2nd – Mary Alice Kropp, NH
1st – Mike Kropp, NH Mike was VERY happy to be able represent his State at the World's.
Chili Verde
5th – Linda Philcrantz, NH
4th – Don Ouellette, NH
Tie for 2nd
3rd – Mary Alice Kropp, NH
2nd – Dave Schulman, CT
1st – Mike Freedman, CT
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Red Chili
Tie for 4th not broken-
Scott Navaroli, MA
Dave Schulman, CT
3rd – Judy Omerza, PA
Tie for 1st
2nd – Vicki Tankis, MA
1st – Ghon Eckley, MD
Ghon drove all night from MD and only got a few hours sleep. It turned out well for him, as this was his Hat Trick!!
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Congratulations to all the winners. We will see you in October!
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Wild Willies & NE State Results
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It was a rainy start to the day on Saturday - but we finished on a grand note on both days.
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Our charity this year was Cars 4 Heroes - a branch of Cars 4 Christmas - and we were able to witness an Iraqi vet receiving a vehicle on both days. We were very touched - and were happy to be a part of helping someone repair their lives.
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Here are our results. Our judges fuss each year about how hard it is to pick a winner from all of the great cooks that attend. Thanks to all for helping to make this cook off the best ever.
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6th Annual Wild Willies Regional
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Salsa
Place Name From Cup #
3rd Steve Harley Winnetoon NE 4
2nd Nita Thompson Omaha 11
1st Alexis Jensen Council Bluffs IA 6
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Verde
5th Julie Brown Wichita KS 5
4th Merry Musel Aberdeen SD 2 (Coconuts)
3rd Bruce Brown Wichita KS 6
2nd Bill Ptersen Goodland KS 10
1st Beeg Juan Wright Bellevue NE 12
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Red
5th Don Light Papillion NE 3
4th Merle Simpson Wichita KS 20
3rd Christy Lucas Papillion NE 10
2nd Steve Harley Winnetoon NE 13
1st Beeg Juan Wright Bellevue NE 11
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NEBRASKA State
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Salsa
3rd Steve Tomasek Elk Canyon CO
2nd Dee Pierce Omaha
1st Beeg Juan Bellevue
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Verde
5th Christy Lucas Papillion
4th Alexis Jensen Council Bluffs IA
3rd "Mama" Johnson Atlantic IA
2nd Bill Peterson Goodland KS
1st Julie Brown Wichita KS
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Red
5th Bill Peterson Goodland KS
4th Merle Simpson Wichita KS
3rd Richard Chauvin Windsor CA
2nd Bruce Brown Wichita KS
1st Don Light Papillion
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Sue & Bill Dudzik
Toucan Chew Chili
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Route 66 Regional
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So who is going to win the Route 66 gas pump, one of the best trophies in all of ICS? Will it be going back to Colorado or Texas? Will it head west to California or Nevada? Or will some Zonie win and keep it here in the Grand Canyon State? Still time to enter and try to win this classic trophy. Hope to see you here!
Paul Whitney
GolfnChili@aol.com
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MAIN STREET TEHACHAPI CHILI COOKOFF
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Only 2 weeks away
Come One, Come All
We Need Cooks and Judges
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This is a GREAT event right on Main Street
June 19, 2010
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.net
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COOK'S CORNER REGIONAL
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JUNE 26, 2010
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We hope to see all of you cooks at the Cook's Corner's Cookoff on June 26th.
Entry fees are $35.00, $25.00 and $15.00 plus 1 gal PC.
Prize money is
Red $500.00, - 300.00, - 200.00
Green $300.00, - 200.00, - 100.00
Salsa $100.00
PC $100.00
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Also, if you are already qualified please come out and help us with the judging.
Hope to see you all there.
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Don Hammes and Bobbie Gaul
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HIGH SIERRA--SATURDAY JULY 3
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NEVADA CAPITAL--SUNDAY, JULY 4
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BACK-TO-BACK REGIONALS
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CARSON CITY, NEVADA
We moved these cookoffs up a few weeks to take advantage of the Independence Day festivities, to, hopefully,, have a little cooler weather, and to give the cooks an extra day for travel.
The cookoffs are back at Glen Eagles Restaurant on the grass and under the trees.
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SALSA--VERDE--RED CHILI--CRAFT FAIR--LOCALS' COOKOFF-----EACH DAY
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Dry camping available at the cookoff site.
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Cooks, please enter on the ICS website, For further info contact Bob Grayson,
HotAirBob@aol.com. 775-882-6878 (days), 775-883-1997 (nights).
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Kicks on RT 66 REGIONAL Chili Cookoff
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Sunday - June 20, 2010
Springfield, IL
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I have had several requests for hotel suggestions if cooking at back to back regionals, the Sangamon County Fair Regional (New Berlin, IL) on June 19th and Kicks on rt 66 Chili Cook off to Benefit Brother James Court (Springfield, IL) on June 20th.
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Here is the hotel room block information. We have blocked rooms on Friday night June 18 and Saturday night June 20. $69.00 per night plus tax. Visit http://www.rt66hotel.com/. Ask for the ICS Chili Cooks block of rooms. Location is great !Minutes away with highway access to New Berlin where the Sangamon County Fair Regional is being held and only 2 blocks from Kicks Family Entertainment Center. Room block will expire on June 15 so make your reservations right away!
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Visit the ICS website for information on signing up for both of these cook-offs.
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Kicks on RT 66 REGIONAL Chili Cookoff
Jill Hanney, Chairman
217-725-6248
2304 Argonne Avenue
Springfield , IL 62704
jillhanney@ameritech.net
for additional information or a flyer
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Washington, DC – Regional
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The 31st annual DC101 Chili Cook-Off benefiting the National Kidney Foundation hit RKF Stadium Festival Grounds on May 22 and offered a full day of music, food, and fun. The rock festival and chili competition raised $1.3 million to help fight kidney disease in metro DC, the area with the highest prevalence of kidney disease in the nation.
The outstanding lineup of bands played a big role in drawing in nearly 30,000 fans who enjoyed sets by Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Cage the Elephant, Switchfoot, Anberlin and Tears of Mars.
Preston A. Englert, Jr., Division President of the National Kidney Foundation Serving the National Capital Area said, "We are indebted to DC101 for the decades of support they have provided. The Chili Cook-Off is a significant fundraiser that helps support programs such as research that leads to medical breakthroughs, our patient emergency fund, and free early detection screenings for at-risk members of our community."
The Chili Cook-Off featured a lively competition between 101 chili cooks in four categories: Red Chili, Chili Verde, Freestyle, and Salsa. In a rare feat, Monica Parker took home top honors in both the Red Chili and Chili Verde competitions. She will go on to compete with her "Monica's Show Me the Money Chili" in the International Chili Society World Championship in the fall.
Among the celebrity chili judges were former Congressman Tom Davis, "America's Next Top Model" alum Sara Albert Hallmark, Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley, quarterback Colt Brennan, and safety Reed Doughty, whose son received a kidney transplant in March 2008, Anita Brikman and Angie Goff from WUSA, and Will Thomas from FOX5 News, whose mother received a life-saving kidney transplant.
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Red Chili
1st Monica Parker
2nd Beverly King
3rd Thad Halcli
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Chili Verde
1st Monica Parker
2nd Tom Conroy
3rd Ricky Store
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ICS Salsa
1st Tom Conroy
2nd Patrick Walther
3rd Carlos Bonafonte
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