New England Regional Chili Cookoff
Another New England Regional Cookoff is on the books. The Chili Gods were smiling down on us. After a very cold and rainy cookoff last year, the day started out the same, but the sun came out, warmed things up and we were off! Mike and Kathy Freedman did a great job getting sponsors and cooks. We had 71 cooks, including some Youth cooks. The field was filled with tents, the smell of chili was in the air and all around was the sight of spectators milling about tasting all the great food, including the hot wings. Miss Connecticut helped judge the Salsa, there was a hot wing eating contest and lots of different bands. The judging tent was alive with activity from 8 am on. With 2 tables in Salsa and Verde and 3 tables in Red, we required, and got, quite a bit of help. By the end of the very long day, there were some cooks disappointed, some thrilled they had such a good time and some were ecstatic they had won. Mike Freedman had lost his voice (good or bad, we are not saying), Kathy was sunburned, and Audrey and Steve looked forward to a nice dinner and a soft bed. All in all, a great cookoff.
.
People's Choice and Best Booth winners:
Reading Hot Chili Peppers - the Reading Firefighters
.
Youth Division:
3rd – Kaitlin Hennessy
2nd – Rachel Sievering
1st – Bryan Navaroli
.
Salsa:
5th – Morgan Wotherspoon
4th – Lou Santangelo
3rd – Mary Alice Kropp
2nd – Chuck Leonardo
1st – Mike Largay
.
Chili Verde:
5th – Wendy Hennessy, NH
4th – Darrell Dunnum, CT
3rd – Beanie Eis, NY
2nd – Scott Navaroli, MA Won tie for second
1st – Jim Heywood, NY Jim completed his Hat Trick!
.
Red Chili:
5th – Sara Perez
4th – Steven Stark (a rookie)
3rd – Scott Navaroli
2nd – Dave Schulman
1st – Vickie Tankis
