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Chili contest a fundraiser with zing
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Published: October 4, 2009
Participants were cooking up some immense tastes while raising money for the Health Reach Clinic of Mooresville at Saturday's Great Chili Cook-Off in Mooresville.
While enjoying the weather and sampling original recipes, local residents were donating to the Health Reach Clinic of Mooresville with their $8 admission fee. The cook-off was the brainchild of Dr. Peter Enyeart, a longtime member of the Rotary, and other Rotary members.
"We've been relying heavily on donations and grants, and we were looking for a way to raise money for the clinic," said Enyeart. "It was initially suggested to do a seafood fest but in the end, the chili just seemed to work better and this event is the result of months of work."
The clinic provides free medical, dental, pharmacological and chiropractic services to people who have no health care options, according to its Web site.
"Since this is the first time, we're aiming to raise $10,000, and hopefully we'll raise more and more each year," Enyeart said. "I think events like this one build community spirit and I'm glad so many have come out to support the cause. There's certainly a need for Health Reach and we have no shortage of uninsured patients."
The cook-off, which was judged by professional chefs, had 12 competitors this year, with the winner receiving $500, second place getting $300 and third taking home $100.
Names of the winners weren't available.
The family-friendly event at the Mooresville Town Square had inflatable playhouses, face-painting and balloons for the kids in addition to music and samples of the potential chili winners.
Beth Hutchby, a competitor, said she's been making her white chili recipe for about three years.
"My children were talking about it one night at dinner and said they liked the white a lot more than the red chili," she said. "My girls were actually the ones who encouraged me to enter."
She said hers stood out from the rest because there was "less acid" and a "different flavor" with the green chilies and chicken included in the recipe.
"I also use a lot of cream," she said.
Berny Davis was a few feet down in another tent and also made a white chicken chili.
"I experimented a few years ago and made up this recipe on my own," she said proudly. She read about the competition in the newspaper and thought it would be fun. "I've really not changed the recipe at all; it was pretty much right the first time."
Her secret?
"A special blend of seasonings, but if I tell you, I'd have to kill you," she said with a laugh. "There's no way I'm sharing."
Laurie Hlywa got a large helping of Davis's chili and immediately exclaimed how much she liked it.
"It's mild at first, then there's a little bite," she described. "It's really creamy, almost like a soup. It's a lot different than some of the others I've tried and I really like it."
In another tent was the "Holy Habenero," a steamy delight cooked up by Bonnie Osborne and Cindy Wiggins.
"It's hot, but I love chili," said taster Jane Dickey. Her favorite was the simple meat chili offered by another vendor, but she said she also enjoyed both of the chicken chilies.
The event was sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Mooresville and the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce.
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