Spring
2003
Social
Events
 |
Beth
Anderson samples an entry. |
Burnin' Up The House:
13th Annual Ecology Chili Cookoff
by Janice Sand
The 13th Annual Institute of Ecology Chili Cookoff was held on Friday,
November 8, 2003. This year's event was another tremendous success, in
part due to all the folks who helped setting up and cleaning up! There
were 25 entries this year...a few short of last year, but still a good
mix.
History
The cookoff began in 1989 after esteemed faculty member Dac Crossley
had a bumper crop of peppers. It started out with about five folks entering
the competition...last year there were a record 33 competitors! This year
the competition consisted of five categories: Best Hot Chili, Best Vegetarian
Chili, Best Traditional Chili, Best Non-Traditional Chili and -- new this
year -- Best Instant Chili. Awards were presented for the top three competitors
in each category.
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(l-r)
Hot Chili Judges Mike Busbee and Stuart Borrett. |
Best Hot Chili
- Third place "Afterburner" award went to Jacob McGrew
for his entry titled "Organic Hell."
- Second place "Sphincter Spasm" award went to Dac
Crossley for his entry titled "Walter G. Whitford Sail
Cat Special" (you'll have to ask Dac to explain it).
- First place "Josh Laerm Hot and Spicy" award went to ecology
alum Pat Thitaram for his entry titled "Toasty."
Best Vegetarian Chili
- Third place "Browsers and Grazers" award went to Sue
Dye for her entry titled "Bulguriffic."
- Second place "Brain Food" award went to Jessica
Seares for her entry titled "Iron Chili"
- First place "Tofu Lover's" award went to Allison
Roy for her entry titled "Nonracial Chili."
Best Traditional Chili
- Third place "Field Trip Leftovers" award went to Duncan
Elkins for his entry titled "Ancho Mamma’s Chili."
- Second place "Methane" award went to Dac Crossley
for his entry titled "Martha Stewart Living Will."
- First place "Carnivore Chili" award went to Lindsay
Stallcup for her entry titled "Seattle Sunshine."
Best Nontraditional Chili
- Two entries tied for the third place "Endangered Species"
award - Jeanne Epstein for her chili titled "Jed’s
Garden Chili" and Itamar Giladi for his chili
titled "Extra Garbanza."
- Second place "Gastrointestinal Nightmare" award went to
Shana Udvardy for her chili titled "Halloween
Howl."
- First place "Buzzard's Breath" award went to Elizabeth
Reece, Tom Small and Wyatt Cross
for their chili titled "Purty Mouth."
Best Instant Chili
The newest category was prompted by a weary researcher who had no time
to cook. Contestants in this category can enter chili that is straight
from the can, or just mix some stuff together at the last minute and enter
that. The idea is to come up with a fast-fix chili that tastes great.
- Third place "Nightmare On Elm Street" chili award went to
Scott Sand for his chili titled "Scoops."
- Second place "Refrigerator Ecosystem" award went to Bud
Freeman for his chili titled "Instant Field Delight."
- First place "Atomic Reaction" award went to Scott
Connelly for his chili titled "Last Minute Rush."
Thanks again to everyone who participated and to Dac and Dave for providing
funding for one of the kegs!
This page last updated July 16, 2003. |
