Chili lovers brave the cold, wind to support centre

The chilly temperatures didn’t stop the chili lovers from making their way to the Leamington Half Century Centre on Saturday, January 13 for the annual Chili Cook-off.

Five entries adorned this year’s chili table as celebrity ladlers dished out robust cups of the popular winter meal to about 40 brave patrons, complete with rolls and dessert.

Among the ladlers were Chatham-Kent Leamington MP Dave Epp, Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald, Leamington Fire Inspector Derrick Clark, Chartwell Leamington’s Nadia DiDomenico and Half Century Centre’s Gail Turk.

Chili was featured from five kitchens, with a panel of judges set up in the back of the hall to judge them on flavour, heat and overall quality. The chili origins were not revealed until after all voting took place.

The three judges — Gary Hiller, Paul Tiessen and Kyle Sayers — had a tough time ranking the five chili offerings but eventually came up with a definite winner.

That winning chili was from Bradt’s Butcher Block, edging out the Half Century Centre, which came in second for the judges’ palates. Rosewood Erie Glen was a close third, followed by the Leamington Fire Department and Chartwell.

The patrons also chose a People’s Choice winner — also Bradt’s Butcher Block, with the secret being revealed after voting that Bradt’s used smoked chilis in their recipe. This set the chili apart from the others, according to the esteemed panel of judges.

The money raised at the event goes toward a new carpet for the centre.