RESULTS and UPCOMINGS









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“2009 Arizona State Open Chili Cookoff in Casa Grande, Arizona

March 7st, 2009

The ChiliHeads of Arizona are proud to report that the 2009 Arizona State Open was an incredible event. With the help of all the chili cooks, the Azchiliopen.com committee and local volunteers everything went smooth. Over 4,000 people enjoyed the chili, show teams, car & motorcycle shows, band, beer/food vendors and arts & crafts. Many local businesses sponsored the event with donations of services, money, and serving large amounts of people’s choice chili to feed the crowd. We helped raise over $10,000 during the event with our chili charity being the Dorothy Powell Senior Adult Center of the Casa Grande.

Cooks from Arizona, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico and Iowa showed up to try and win some of the coveted copper pot trophies that this cookoff is famous for. Luck was with Norm Dunn of Sierra vista, AZ who topped a field of 56 seasoned cooks and past champions. Chili legends Mike Strack, Patti Kunstman, Ken Brown and Carson Smith rounded out the top five. Twenty people’s choice chilis were served for public judging with Dave's Double Barrel Chili/Henry Brown Chevrolet getting the most votes from the crowd. Dave's Double Barrel Chili/Henry Brown Chevrolet also won show with spectacular chii pepper dancers, balloons and a party atmosphere. Thanks to all of the people that served large quantities of chili and entertained the public.

A special thanks to all of the Azchiliopen.com committee and our incredible sponsors (Budweiser, Henry Brown Chevrolet and many more) who organized a premier chili event that provided everything a chili cook could ever want. The incredible efforts and generosity of everyone involved have made this a cookoff that no one should miss.

CASI Chili (56 entries)
1. Norm Dunn, Sierra Vista, AZ
2. Mike Strack - Sierra Vista
3. Patti Kunstman - Sierra Vista
4. Ken Brown, Gold Canyon, AZ
5. Carson Smith, Tucson, AZ
6. Karen Thomas, Alto, NM
7. Kim Dunn, Sierra Vista, AZ
8. Sandi Garner, Mesa, AZ
9. David Garner, Mesa, AZ
10.Cindy Dunn, Cornville, AZ

Showmanship
1. Dave's Double Barrel Chili - Dave Schlagel
2. Beside the Track Chili - John C. Johnson
3. RU2 Chili - Kenneth Brown

People's Choice (15 entries)
1. Chili the Daisy Way - Jacob Hammerly -Daisy Sour Cream Chili
2. Dave's Double Barrel Chili - Dave Schlagel (Henry Brown Chili)
3. Halter Consturction Chili - Kurt Halter

Casa Grande Hometown Restaurant Chili Challenge
1 – Borderline Cocina Mexicana”
(Caron Smith)

“In yesterday's results of the Mar 14 cookoff in St. Charles IL, I listed Bret Centers as second place and also as third place. Bret would really appreciate the notoriety, but twin brother Bert was actually third place.” (Bill Pierson)

POTPOURRI

Happy Anniversary to me and The Champ.

“These days an income is something you can't live without--or within.” - Tom Wilson

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