He thinks he'll throw his hat in the Chili Pot!

So after 2 years of watching from the sidelines, with the occasional stint at judging and cooking for the giveaway, I had a feeling that Michael might decide this year he would probably step it up a notch.  So it wasn't a huge surprise when a couple of weeks ago he announced that he would like to register to compete in the last chance red chili competition at the world championships in Charleston, WV.  Rick had booked our hotel months ago and we already had our flights and car booked, so all that was left was our name, our logo, a few fun chili decorative items, and...oh right, a chili recipe!!!

In order to make it official, Michael had to join the International Chili Society - here's his official membership.

Next up was the logo, which is pretty much where I started with this blog - so scroll to the top, or to the bottom and you will see what we came up with.  As of now the name is "Freddy Beach Chili Co", however Michael is still trying to come up with a catchy name for his actual red chili.  All reasonable suggestions will be considered, so feel free to offer up your ideas.

Michael had a starter recipe compiled from Uncle Rick, along with ideas from past world winners that are posted in the ICS site.  He then set about making a few pots for testing.  I decided to take samples to 6 of the guys in the office and gave them questionaires to fill out for their feedback - all of which was very helpful in getting Michael to a final recipe that he's happy with and believes will compete with any on the world stage.  We then had a mexican themed family dinner, which included 2 different pots to try as well.  Here's a picture of my table prior to eating!  (We had so much fun I forgot to take pics of us actually eating!!)

So now we are 4 days from heading out on the great chili adventure of 2012.  We are driving to Bangor after work on Wednesday and fly out to Charleston early Thursday morning.  There will be lots to do to prepare for Friday as we will only have spices with us - all fresh ingredients will have to be purchased when we get there. 

It should be a crazy, fun and busy few days.  Michael and Rick will be competing side by side on Friday in the last chance red chili competition.  Wendy has entered the very first "homestyle" chili competition on Friday afternoon, as well the Salsa competition on Saturday.  Rick, as previously mentioned, qualified early in the year for the Chile Verde cookoff on Saturday.  So I guess we'll have to wait and see if the guys make it through to cook on Sunday in the big event! 

 Wish us luck!  If nothing else - we've got the T-shirts!

Same time next year...2011 World Championships

So once again we hop in the car and head to Manchester, of course spending a night on the way in Portland in order to get in some great shopping deals at the factory outlets.  Nothing says fabulous like a new Coach purse!

Friday this year was quiet on the home front as Uncle Rick had managed to qualify for both green and red chili at competitions throughout the year, so everyone sat back and enjoyed the festival, the weather and watched the last chance cooks as they competed.  Michael scored a spot in the judges tent for the day, so he was happy!

Chili Judge

Saturday was great day for the crew.  Michael and Andrew teamed up to cook the giveaway chili, a hot and spicy red that got rave reviews from the crowd.  Simply amazed once again at obviously "just missing" the the winners podium for People's Choice!  A great year in green once again for Rick as he makes the final table for his pot!

Andrew putting the final touches on the Giveaway Chili

 

Rick at the Final table for Chili Verde!

Sunday, as always, is the day everyone is waiting for - the finale, Red Chili.  Everyone is excited and hopeful and all cooks are nervous as they tend to their pots, hoping their best is the judge`s choice today.  Nothing we can do now, except wait for the announcement....

Listening intently....waiting....



Unfortunately not this year.......

  It might not have been the picture finish from last year, but it was still a great time and a great competition. When we had a chance to review the judges comments and scores we realized that Rick had been just one spot removed from being on the final table - so again a really good result.

It was announced this year that next years` championships will be heading back south, to Charleston, West Virginia.  That will mean either a very long car ride for us, or a quick flight out of Bangor.  But I can tell by the look on Michael`s face that we`ll be making the trip either way.  He`s hooked!

Here's a few more shots from the week. 

Start at the beginning - 2010 World Championships

Two years ago Michael's uncle Rick, a master chili cook, called to inform us that the World Chili Championships were going to be held on the east coast in Manchester, New Hampshire - a mere 5 hour drive from where we live in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.  We had been hearing for years about Rick and Wendy's travels across the US competing in chili cookoffs and had seen the assortment of trophy's and awards they had amassed in the room in the basement of their home in Windsor, Ontario.  It didn't take much arm twisting to convince us to head to Manchester to see what it was all about.  My main inspiration for the trip was all of the outlet shopping I could get in on the way in Kittery, Freeport, Portland and New Hampshire! 

That first year for us was quite an eye opener to the chili world!  Cooks from all over the US (and 2 from Canada) started setting up on Friday morning to set up for the "last chance" red chili competition.  In order to qualify to cook in the big event - red chili - on Sunday, entrants must have won a state or divisional cook-off within the previous year.  Anyone who has not qualified has the opportunity of a "last chance" on Friday. The top 10 last chance cooks earn their spots on Sunday.  This year Uncle Rick had qualified early in the year for Saturday's green chili event (known as chili verde), but fell just short of the #1 spot for red in competitions over the year.  So it was that South of the Border Chili set up shop and got down to business for the last chance competition.



Rick and Michael at the booth

 It was an exciting day and we were all very proud when Rick's name was called as 1 of the 10 last chance cooks to win entry into Sunday's final competition!!

Next up was Saturday's Chili Verde contest which Rick had qualified for very early in the season at the Great Lakes Regional Cookoff in Plymouth, Michigan.  (Rick has won this cookoff three years straight, including this year which means automatic entry into the 2012 world's in Charleston, WV).  He did a great job and was included in the final table.  One of the highlights of the day was Wendy's white chicken chili that we gave out to the public as our giveaway chili - still can't believe we didn't win people's choice!!  It was absolutely delicious.

Green Chili Day

Finally it's Sunday and time for the big event - Red Chili.  Cooks start your engines, or light your stoves in this case!  There's $25,000 on the line for the best pot, so this is serious business.  A few toasts are made, lots of taste tests are taken and a last pinch of secret ingredient goes in the pot before Rick heads to the judges tent with his submission.



Dishing up his Chili for the judges

And the verdict from the judges - Final Table!!!! 



One of these 3 is the winner!



Congratulations Tom!

So a great time was had by all.  We met lots of great people and saw many fun, crazy sights!  When the announcement was made that Manchester would once again be the host city for the 2011 championships I knew immediately from the look on Michael's face that we would be back.  He clearly had caught chili fever!



Unofficial Chilihead!



Let there be Chili...

So here it is - the newly created, official logo for the Freddy Beach Chili Co!  A thankful shout out to Steve O who helped tremendously in getting it started.  We think it tells the story well, from the Fredericton lighthouse, to the Canadian flag and most importantly the chili peppers - cause that's what it's all about!

I'll be back later to tell the story................