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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Dishing up his Chili for the judges |
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| One of these 3 is the winner! |
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| 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!
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| Unofficial Chilihead! |
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