We've left the Woodbridge Winery for a place to plug in and see Dancing With The Stars. We’ll be heading to Novato, California tomorrow to visit with friends and taste some Sonoma wine.

We had a great visit in Lodi. Lodi has long been a major area for grape production in California and there are nearly 80 wineries to visit. Our friends at Woodbridge were our hosts. We enjoyed a lot of visit time with them as we prepared for the cookoff. Thanks to Larry, Bill, Kim and everyone else who helped us at Woodbridge. We also found time to visit a few other wineries, renewing acquaintances made last year and enjoying some great wine.

It sure would be nice to spend a couple of weeks in Lodi to visit the friendly people who grow the grapes and produce excellent wines at their family wineries.

RESULTS and UPCOMINGS

The 8^th annual California CASI Chili Championship was the biggest and best so far. A contingent of Texas cooks converged on Lodi and found that the California judges had a taste for Texas chili. We placed six of the top ten places.

The event featured chili cookoff, car show, and twenty vendors raising funds for the Lodi Public Library Foundation. More than a thousand people came out to taste chili and see the action and we raised over $5000 for the charity.

Chili

1. Larry George – Q

2. Lynn Hejtmancik

3. Cindy George

4. Justin Marshall – Q

5. Arlindo Baptista – Q

6. Christine Vestfals – Q

7. Margaret Nadeau

8. Ron Boisseranc

9. Sharon Pinnell

10. Steve Nadeau

Show

1. Joe Singletary – Wicked Weasel Chili

“The SAP CASI Fall Fest Cook-off held in Bandera was once again a success. A Big Thank you to all that came out to join us. And to those that worked so hard to make it such a success. On Friday night we enjoyed delicious Hobo Stew prepared by Clyde Rogers and Kenny Morgenroth. Both days of judging ran smoothly due to the hard work of Bob Steinle and Happy Hinman and Aida. The Tally team consisting of Clyde Rogers and crew did anther fine job. Saturday nights potluck was held at Kenny and Susie's motorhome so we thank them for their hospitality. Our referees did a great job as well. On Saturday the referee was Deb LaLanne and Sunday was Tracy Bond. Thanks to everyone that helped to make the Oct Fall Fest the event that it was. Without your help we couldn't have a successful cook-off.

Here are the results:
Chili ~ Sat 47 Chilis
1st ~ Deb LaLanne
2nd ~ James Bauer
3rd ~ Tricia Byrom
4th ~ Tracy Bond
5th ~ Fread Cielencki
6th ~ Stacy LaLanne
7th ~ Susie Morgenroth
8th ~ Kenny Morgenroth
9th ~ Christine Knight
10th ~ Kyle Bond

Beans
1st ~ Sue Ann Brooks
2nd ~ Robert Gott
3rd ~ Susie Morgenroth

Hot Wings
Eldon Hiley

Chili ~ Sun ~ 28 Chilis
1st ~ Bill Dees
2nd ~ Kyle Bond
3rd ~ Kenny Morgenroth
4th ~ Clyde Rogers
5th ~ Melodie Smith
6th ~ Tim LaLanne
7th ~ Charmaine Rogers
8th ~ George Jowers
9th ~ Dianne Lewis
10th ~ Tamara Dees”