One Nation, Under God
“Wish I had time for just one more bowl of chili.” -- Last words of Kit Carson, American frontiersman (1809-1868)
On Sunday, February 15, competitors will faceoff at the 12th VWF/American Legion Auxiliary Chili Cookoff in Malta and spectators will be asked to vote for three different people’s choice awards while secret judges will be roaming around grading the food to decide who the champs will be.
Last year, for various reasons, the event was not held, but Krista Fahlgren, President of the American Legion Auxiliary, and Carolyn Schmoeckel, the group’s Secretary and Treasurer, recently decided that this year the event would once again be held.
“The reason the American Legion is connected with the event is that we are trying to resurrect it,” Schmoeckel said. “No one took an interest last year and we had a meeting and decided there wasn’t much going on around town that day so we should hold the contest again.”
The event will be held on a Sunday so that it doesn’t conflict with any local sports activities, according to Schmoeckel, and since the Super Bowl has come and gone, the American Legion Auxiliary figured they could serve some super bowls (of chili) and have some fun while doing it.
“We are going to give it a shot,” she said.
The contest on Sunday is limited to 10-teams and so far, only half of the open spots are filled. People interested in participating in the contest should contact Schmoeckel at 654-2777 or Fahlgren at 546-2878 for more information.
The cookoff participants are asked to arrive at the VFW at noon to start cooking their chili (though the hors d’oeuvres can be cooked prior to that time for the contest.) The chili has to be done and ready to serve by 5 p.m.
A group of three to five unanimous judges will be on hand at the event to ranks the dishes.
New to the cookoff this year will be a $3 entry at the door. With the price of admission, (aside from the great food that will be had) audience members will be given three colored tickets. The tickets will be placed in cans to vote for “People Choice Chili,” “People’s hors d’oeuvres” and “People’s Choice Decorations.”
“Everybody is encouraged to decorate their area to the theme of their choosing,” Schmoeckel said. “People will write down their team they are voting for, and which portion of the contest, and the winners will be crowned at the end of the night.”
All proceeds from the event will be split between the VFW and the American Legion Auxiliary.
The entry fee for contestants for the cookoff is $50 and all those proceeds go toward paying for trophies and payback (which will depend on how many teams enter.)
“People can come down and join the contest all the way up to Sunday,” Schmoeckel said. “As long as they have their chili ready to go by 5 p.m., they are good to go.”
Schmoeckel said that the VFW will open at 4 p.m. on Sunday, but people can’t start sampling the food until 5 p.m. Schmoeckel said that if any entrants who might use alcohol in their recipe must disclose this prior to the event.
“It is a family friendly contest and we encourage everyone to come down to the VFW and spend the evening with us,” Schmoeckel said.
Schmoeckel, a winner of a previous chili cookoff with teammate Laurie Uphaus, said that the key to a successful pot of homemade chili is flavor and persistence.
“It has to be the ultimate taste,” she said. “And Laurie and I did it for three years in a row before we became champions. You just have to keep trying, I suppose.”
Judging and award presentations will commence at 7 p.m.
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