Happy 09/09/09!

RESULTS and UPCOMINGS

“Empire State POD August 29 Cookoff Results:

One beautiful thing about CASI and CASI cookoffs is the DIVERSITY of our cookoffs. On August 29 there were 2 CASI cookoffs that were about as different as night and day could possibly be.

In Tennessee the Tennessee State Championship had some 97,000 people at a county fair: in New York the Empire Sate POD cookoff had some 16 (YES SIXTEEN) people come by the cooks area at Tioga Downs Race Track and Casino (actually the track was not yet open for the day and we were using the venue as a test run for a bigger cookff in the future).

In Tennessee there were 25 cooks: in New York there were 15 (same as 16 other cookoffs announced in the August edition of the Trails).

In Tennessee judges were elected county officials from state and county government and company owners and managers; in New York the judges were track and casino managers and employees, a chef and administrative staff. (Hey, the mafia was busted big time at Appalachia right down the road some 52 years ago).

So, 2 very different CASI cookoffs. BUT, guess what? Also, 2 very similar cookoffs. We all had fun, we raised money for worthwhile charities (albeit considerably different amounts), and we spread the word about the wonders of chili. And, the last I heard, THAT"S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT CHILIHEADS!

On to the results:

Chili:

1. Bob Griffin, Endicott, NY;
2. Jack Windsor, Severna Park, MD;
3. Rocky Rockwell, Rochester, NY;
4. Ed Blaine, Endicott, NY;
5. Barb Rockwell, Rochester, NY;
6. Sarah Grossman, Corning, NY;
7. Rose Blaine, Endicott, NY;
8. Jim Penzo, Windsor, NY;
9. Ann Grossman, Corning, NY;
10. Jenny Windsor, Severna Park, MD.

Showmanship:

1. Jack Windsor, Knights of the Wooden Spoon - "Q'd";
2. Ann Grossman, Three Bears Chili;
3. Rocky Rockwell, Buffalo Breath Chili - "Q'd".

Road Runners - Jenny and Jack Windsor - Severna Park, MD.

PS - Jim Penzo, the new NY State Champ cooked, is totally psyched about cooking at Terlingua, got a "tutorial" on the "activities" at TICC week and said he'd probably bring some beads along with his winning spices.” Rocky Rockwell

POTPOURRI

Happy Birthday to Paula Tubb. Happy Anniversary to Darrell and Beth Baxter.

“Humor is just another defense against the universe.” - Mel Brooks

News items and pictures for the CHN can be emailed to pepperdean@ctesc.net