19th
FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN
COOKOFF
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– SNOWSHOE WEST VIRGINIA
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July 9 & 10, 2010
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If you had checked weather predictions starting a couple of weeks prior, and it consistently said: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – “clear and beautiful”; Friday & Saturday – “80% plus chance of rain”…you would have been led to assume: “oh well; soggy cookoffs are better than no cookoffs at all”.
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Guess what? The Chili Gods had not been consulted…and they smiled as they chose to not go along with the experts.
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Friday was warm, cloudy with occasional sun peeking through, and the predicted rain did not come down until after Salsa and Verde had concluded. Since Snowshoe Resort had the flexibility to move both the awards ceremony and the subsequent cooks’ party indoors to Shaver Center…smiled indeed.
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Heavy rain continued throughout Friday evening and early Saturday. Then near dawn Saturday, the rain stopped; by set-up time for Traditional Red, cooks faced a chili (temperature wise) morning with some fog…correction: “fog” is meteorologically impossible in the mountains; what you see are “low clouds”.
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By 10:30 AM, the sun had broken through and jackets were shed. A glorious, 75 degree, 50 mile visibility, Chamber of Commerce, West Virginia Mountains summer day ensued…smiled indeed.
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Switching to the actual cookoff, as I have observed in the 16 years that I’ve had the privilege to be “Head Chili” at Fire on the Mountain, the Snowshoe staff does an absolutely superb job of putting on what is a very large cookoff. This year was no exception.
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Our new Madam Chairman (Chairperson for those who insist in bastardizing the language) – Amy Cole, Events Manager – did not miss a beat. This was perhaps best illustrated by the highly complimentary comments about the cookoff, from two long time ICS cooks and experienced cookoff organizers – Wes Carlson and Jim (Chef) Haywood – who were making their first ever appearance at Snowshoe; absolutely the best sort of praise: that which comes from “been there, done that” folks.
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I noticed that the Salsa, Verde and Traditional Red results are already posted on Dick’s Chili World, having been sent in by Gohn and Kim Eckley. Therefore, no point repeating them here (I will add them to a posting on the new ICS BLOG); instead, I will focus on “the rest of the story”.
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Salsa and Verde were Finals Table only. Traditional Red was Three Preliminary and Finals Table.
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With over half of the Red cooks being former WCCC qualifiers, the Prelim Table Judges had an extremely tough job…and one they did superbly if you check the Finals Table that follows. I for one will vouch that it was one of the most difficult ones I’ve done outside of the WCCC; my feelings/opinion were echoed by all the other Finals Judges.
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Finals Table – Traditional Red (16 cooks)
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Members of the Finals Table were awarded $25 Gift Certificates from Snowshoe, as Snowshoe does every year.
That in addition to the Prize Money: 4th $100, 3rd $200, 2nd $400 and 1st $10,000 (yes, TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS)…of which Uncle Sam gets around $3,400. Obviously a very patriotic thing to do; given that the country is rapidly going broke and every little bit helps.
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And the cooks were:
Christian Parker, Lauren Lentz Staley, Kevin Roberts, Larry Lentz, Jim Heywood, Kim Eckley, Ed Garner, Dan Bauer, Les Walter, Carrie Lentz Parker, Kevin Foley, Diane Lentz, Beverly King, Wes Carlson, Challenged Athletes of West Virginia, Terry Van Lehn
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As an aside, this was the first Fire on the Mountain (in a long time since I’ve been judging) where not a single member of the Lentz Clan was already qualified in Red…and they were ALL COOKING! You might also notice that all five made it to the Finals Table (David Staley has ‘retired’)…and two made it to the Podium – Carrie 2nd, Larry 1st.
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One final note…and one that should make both Carol & Vickie happy: we also had something like seven (7) first time ICS cooks.
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Lord willing, looking forward to seeing everybody at Manchester in October…and next July at Snowshoe,
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Sergei Kowalchik
‘Head Chili’ (Chief Judge)
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Bailey's Bar & Grill
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District Cookoff
July 24th 2010 Saturday
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This is a first time cookoff and a chance for some cook to complete their 2nd District Win and a spot in the World's or a chance for someone to win a spot in the Last Chance Cookoff (and save $100.00 on the buy-in).
The folks at Bailey's are a fun bunch and are working real hard to put on a good show.
Bailey's is in Yuciapa Ca. not far off the 10 freeway. Exit Yuciapa Blvd and travel to 14th Street and turn right and your there. It looks like you will be able to park where your cooking. That is the plan right now.
Prize money is $300.00 for first, $200.00 for second and $100.00 for third with trophies.
Entry fee for red is $30.00+1 gal. p/c
Salsa pays $100.00 for first only
Entry fee for Salsa is $15.00 + 1qt.
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People's Choice pays $300.00 for first only. Please bring extra p/c as it does pay well.
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Chief Judge is Mike"Ughlee" Austin
Chief Scorekeeper is Allene Macklin
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We are looking for cooks and judges
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ALL OHIO REGIONAL CHILI COOKOFF
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Cincys Back and That's a Fact!!!
Hello Fellow Chili Heads
Mark your calendars for Saturday September 11th for the All Ohio Regional Chili Cook Off benefiting The Fire Museum of Greater Cincinnati.
For more information contact Bill "Gumby" Donovan @513-470-0264.
Or register online. Set up @8:00am.
Hope to see you there!!!
Bill "Gumby" & Gail Donovan
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