Chili in the rain; Wildely popular Chili Challenge attracts the crowds despite bad weather

By SHARI KING The Reminder          

WINDSOR — The eighth annual Chili Challenge at the Windsor Town Green on Saturday, Oct. 8, allowed adventurous patrons to taste-test 20 different types of chili. Despite torrential downpours and mud that one had to navigate to sample the recipes, the spirits of all that attended stayed bright and cheerful all afternoon – no doubt helped out by some secret spices.
    “We have a record number of cooks this year, and everybody showed up. I have no complaints. The true spirit of Windsor has come through today,” said Event Chair Lori Hartmann, known at the event as “the Empress of Chili.”
    The event began as contestants gathered on the green to prepare and cook their 20 quarts of the spicy meat stew. Under the rules of the contest, participants must attend a mandatory meeting with a member of the Board of Heath on food-handling safety, the meat needed to be inspected prior to cooking, and the chili had to be prepared on site. The Chili Challenge committee provided tent space, an 8-foot table, eating utensils and a fire extinguisher. Decorating the space and creating characters to go along with the chili theme were strongly encouraged. All the contestants were protected under a canopy of tents spread out across the green. There were four to five booths under each tent, and visitors and taste-testers were greeted at each one with warm smiles and even warmer bowls of chili.
    Century 21/William Smith Reality took The Chili Inferno Award for having the hottest chili at the event. — The Best Chili Award went to Traditions/MDC and The Windsor Democrats snatched the Peoples Choice Award for their hearty sirloin steak chili.
    The Best Booth award went to D’Aleo Design for their numbing Novocain chili. The dentist and assistants had samplers sit in a real dentist chair complete with suction, drills and 60cc syringes.
    Entrant Enita Jubrey enthusiastically said, “The Windsor community knows a great event. They are going to come out and support it - snow, rain or sleet. This was a great turnout.”
    Villari’s nabbed the Greasy Spoon Award, for their black belt served up medley.
    Heart and Soil Farms won the Most Full of Beans Award for their smoked sausage four bean stew.
    Randy Raymond of Windsor was sampling his second bowl of the beany blend. “This is the best I’ve ever had. There are so many different ingredients, all the flavors work together, and they don’t overpower each other,” said Raymond. Heart and Soil Farms decided to share one of its secret ingredients – pumpkin.
    The Windsor Police “didn’t need no stinking badges” as they served up their experimental bandito brew. The high-spirited “Mexican” officers had incarcerated Santa Claus and were taking donations for his bail for their annual toy drive coming this winter. Wallingford’s Gaylord Hospital created Austin’s – as in “Austin Powers” - Powerful Chili; “The chili that makes you randy, baby!” On site was the entire international man of mystery’s cast, complete with go-go girls, Dr. Evil and the fat Scotsman.
    The Windsor High School culinary arts class had secret agents with students in dark suits and sunglasses; one was easily convinced to try their chicken chili with the extra hot sauce dispensed in a pistol.
    The Beanery Bistro won the Most Unusual Booth Award for their display, Chili and the Chocolate Factory. Oompaloompas were serving chocolate chili, made up of melted chocolate with chili powder mixed with diced fruit topped with marshmallows, M&M’s and whipped cream.
    Windsor Sanitation had a hilarious recycled concoction. Lon Pelton was offering cups of moxie for those who were brave enough to try their hot mix. Pelton said, “This is landfill chili - you got to wear a mask to eat it.” Chili chef Jay Carmon shared his ingredient list by displaying a recycling bin full of dog and cat food cans.
    The nine judges certainly had their work cut out for them selecting the prizewinning entries. Windsor High School Principal Joe Arcarese was enjoying his first stint as chili challenge judge.
    “This is an exceptional day,” Arcarese said. “There are so many people here not letting a day as miserable as this stop them. This is a total community effort. When things started to get muddy, they got together and spread out hay. The community supported this event as much as they support education.”
    Also judging was Board of Education member Mike McDonald. “This is what this town is all about,” McDonald said. “The green is a virtual mud pit, and look at the people enjoying themselves.”
    Clover Street School’s Raquel Cintron said, “I’m so grateful to be a part of this. The rain did not stop Windsor. This is a wonderful community.”
    Visit the Chamber of Commerce Web site at www.windsorcc.org to find more information about participating in next year’s mouth-melting chili contest.

You gonna love it! Windsor police offcer Sue Bowman (left) and Renee LeGeyt convince Bob Whelan he should sample their bandito blend.

It won't hurt a bit. Patient Gabby getting some pretend dental work by Best Booth winners D’Aleo Design. (Left to right) Enita Jubrey, Darcy D’Aleo and Lisa Santoro

Oompa Loompa Doopity Do. The Beanery Bistro’s Carol Engelmann (left) and Val Milgate offer up chocolate chili at their award winning display of Chili and the chocolate factory.