By Brian M. Boyce
TERRE HAUTE — Parking lots jammed with live music and hot chili Saturday, as thousands gathered for Altrusa’s annual chili cook-off.
“It was a whole family event,” chairwoman Jody Reinoehl said toward the end of the festivities which ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Clabber Girl Festival Marketplace at Ninth and Cherry streets.
More than 2,000 tasters had run the gauntlet of chili tents by 3 p.m., she said, as the parking lots were spaced by 26 cooking teams featuring more than 30 brands of chili. The Just Us Band wailed away all day while kids played at a free carnival and costume contest nearby.
Reinoehl said this is her fourth year participating in the cook-off. Last year’s fundraiser for the literacy-oriented group netted $14,000, and Reinoehl felt optimistic about this year’s draw.
“Given the local state of the economy, it’s been a two-fold success,” she said, noting the event is inexpensive, family-friendly entertainment as well as a support for a good local cause.
Phil Chatman proudly displayed his 2007 championship trophy at the Cummins Behavioral Health Systems tent. Unable to participate last year, Chatman and his grandchildren hovered over their brew in hopes of a repeat.
“I think my chili’s better this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, a team of “dirty carnies” doused their sauce with fire, bragging that their “super hot chili” was the hottest on-site.
“We ran out of our medium,” Clabber Girl’s April Osburn said. Clabber Girl Culinary and GFS teamed up as “dirty carnies,” and Osburn dressed up as a sword swallowing performer, as other teammates wore inky tattoos and wigs.
And the team must have had something going with their hottest brand, as the judges eventually declared their’s the hottest chili in the corporate division.
Howard Compton took first place in the judge’s category for individual competitors while the United Way team took top honors in the corporate category for the second year in a row.
Contestants sold chili samples for 25 cents a cup, with the money raised counted toward the People’s Champ awards. In the individual contest for People’s Choice, Made in a Keg Chili, which was made in an empty beer keg, won top honors. In the corporate division of People’s Choice, Rotary Terre Haute South Club won.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
