Homestyle
Chili Cookoff at Hometown Throwdown sanctioned in the first-ever Washington state
Homestyle Chili competition Saturday, June 14, 2014 and has qualified a winner
to the World Championship with International Chili Society. With 10
competitors, the number required to sanction the event, it is considered a
regional homestyle cookoff.
First place
winner is: Sue Simons, Roy. As first place
winner, she will advance to compete at the world championship.
This is the
third year for Homestyle division and the first time Washington state has hosted this level of
competition. “Last year was my first year to coordinate the event and focus was
on sanctioning Chili Red, Chili Verde
and Salsa and we were successful,” Cynthia Stearns, Homestyle Chili Cookoff
at Hometown Throwdown event producer said. “This year, we were ready to take on
this competition and are excited we have been able to sanction this as well.”
Others
winning include:
- Second place: Leonard
Kellogg, Lynnwood
- Third Place: Ross Lunbeck,
Lacey
- Fourth Place: Rescue Mission, Tacoma
- Fifth Place: Yuki Batten, Auburn
Also
competing were:
- Penny and Daryll Grant, Gig Harbor
- Sally Jo Hagen, West Seattle
- Destry Henderson, Tacoma
- Larry and Betty Mayer, Lakebay
- Stadium Thriftway, Tacoma.
This
competition was designed for teams (one-four persons) allowing individuals,
businesses and organizations to participate.
Races were
tight including a three-way tie for fifth place with a tie-breaker to name the
fifth-place winner.
Guest
judges sampled in blind tastings.
Head judge Ken Peach of Spanaway and Scorekeeper Ann-Marie Anderson of Lynwood oversaw the judging and
scoring process.
Guest judges were Judie Anderson,
former restaurant chef and BBQ and chili judge, Austin and Cheryl Miller, KCBS
BBQ judges, Nick Alan from 100.7 FM and Jim Flavin from Tacoma Rainiers. Health
Department Liaison was Greg Frederick.
Also
announced was People’s Choice, won
by Rescue Mission of Tacoma. Prize
was tickets to Tacoma Rainiers.
“Up in Smoke” won for Best Booth,
created by Yuki Batten of Auburn. Prize was Chili Pepper necklace
and earrings by Bernesa’s Beads of
Pacific Beach.
Concert tickets to Blake Shelton,
Toby Keith and Zac Brown Band (100.7 The Wolf), VIP package (Tacoma
Rainiers) were awarded for those finishing first through
third. (First place had prize package valued at nearly $300, second $115 and
third $85.) Heritage Distilling Company
and Lynnae’s Gourmet Pickles were
included prizes. Additionally, a signed book by local author Bernadette Pajer and Touchstone Crystal Jewelry (Elaine Thompson) were presented.
“We were
presented the opportunity to coordinate this cookoff with 100.7 The Wolf
Hometown Throwdown concert at Cheney Stadium. It was a natural to have this
combination and bring an event of this caliber to Tacoma,” Stearns said.
Tasting
kits included five tastes for $5. The chili was a huge hit with the crowd (over
3,000 in attendance) and was sold out in two hours.
Founded in
1967, the International Chili Society
is an organization that sanctions nearly 200 chili cookoffs each year that are
governed by ICS rules and regulations and a blind judging process. These events
are worldwide and benefit charities or non-profit organizations. Local winners
of ICS sanctioned cookoffs qualify to compete for prizes and awards throughout
the year.
Over $90,000,000 has
been donated to charities through the cookoffs. One million spectators a year
participate in ICS events by cooking, tasting, judging, and having a good time.
“We would
like to thank the businesses and people who supported this event including
100.7 The Wolf and Cheney Stadium. Also, a thank you to the competitors, our
head judge and scorekeeper, plus our guest judges and others who assisted,”
Stearns said.
For more
information, please contact: Cynthia
Stearns, 360.589.7751 or by email:
