Madoc votes for the best chili

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Gail Paquette

Click to Enlarge
Jerry Stewart, landfill attendant for the Municipality of Centre Hastings, mixed a little work with pleasure. His chili entry was aptly named dump rat.

Gail Paquette, Stirling EMC

Jerry Stewart, landfill attendant for the Municipality of Centre Hastings, mixed a little work with pleasure. His chili entry was aptly named dump rat.

Click to Enlarge
Austin Berry, four, was there in support of his dad's chili entry entitled

Gail Paquette, Stirling EMC

Austin Berry, four, was there in support of his dad's chili entry entitled "Thunder Pants." He also accompanied musician Felix Taylor expertly with a toy whistle.

EMC News -Madoc - Le Loco Gringo won the prestigious first-place award followed closely by Thunder Pants and Dump Rat in Madoc's first Chili Cookoff. After its inaugural success it will become an annual event.

The idea was cooked up between Pat Shannon of Central Support Network and Richard Peck, a member of Arts Centre Hastings. Volunteer members of both committees championed the idea. This is the second time the two groups have partnered in a fund-raising effort.

Thanking all teams, Peck said it was a hard decision and numbers were close.

"This was a great and successful event! I am looking forward to next year," Shannon said.

Seven teams including Foodland and Centre Hastings Fire Department entered.

All the entrants had to do was cook up a batch of chili and then let people be the judges. Tickets were five bucks and included tasting each entry, a heaping bowl of the preferred batch and a chance to vote for the eventual trophy winner.

Adding to the atmosphere was musician Felix Taylor whose talent and expertise on a variety of instruments set the pace and added the perfect balance to the lighthearted competition.

When asked for the secret behind the trophy winning chili Le Loco Gringo team member Dale Thompson quickly avoided spilling the beans by saying, "My wife made me do it."