The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Chili Challenge
Annual chili cook off to benefit SOS Services
PUBLISHED: January 24, 2008
I have polished my tasting spoons. I have washed my tasting bowl and begun a strict fast in preparation for an occasion sure to warm the Michigan winter.
Advertisement
I refer, of course, to the second annual Depot Town Chili Challenge, in benefit of SOS Community Services, set from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday in Depot Town.
Organized in 2007 by Shannon Gordon of Gordon's Five and Dime in Depot Town, this year's chili challenge will feature an august group of celebrity tasting judges: Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber, City Fire Chief Jon Ichesco, State Representative Alma Wheeler Smith, WEMU Music Director and morning music host Linda Yohn, sports radio host Sean Baligian, and Pete Thomas from NBC's "The Biggest Loser."
Oh, and scraping the bottom of the appetite adjudication barrel (and stretching the limits of the term, "celebrity"), yours truly will also act as judge.
In the first annual Challenge, Sidetrack's John MacMillan took top honors for "John and Walter's Cheeseburger Chili." The second most votes went to the Sidetrack's "Guadalahot Hot Mexican Chili," and the house chili Aubree's came in a close third.
A certified chili lover, "Chili Chairman" Gordon was delighted with the results of the inaugural event.
"The first Depot Town Chili Challenge was so much fun and such a fantastic fundraiser for SOS, we decided to make it a tradition," he explained. "Plus, it's a great opportunity to walk through Historic Depot Town and sample some remarkably flavorful chili."
And, with all proceeds going to SOS Community Services, it will also be a fine occasion to help support a worthy cause. SOS gives care and services to families in need by providing temporary shelter and transitional housing, education support, life and parenting skills training, child care, and after school programs.
The Depot Town chili chow down of 2007 saw more than 200 participants raise in excess of $900 for SOS; organizers hope to top that figure in this year's challenge.
Twenty different chili varieties will be served on Saturday, each and every one cooked up by local businesses, including Gordon's Five and Dime, Sidetrack, Aubrees, CafÈ Luwak, Queen of Hearts, Quinn's Essentials, Ypsilanti Food Co-Op, Cady's Grill & Bar, the Corner Brewery, and Dennis's Music. Participants can pick up their Chili Challenge kits - bowls, spoons, and essential accessories - at any of the starting locations: Gordon's Five & Dime (23 E. Cross St.), CafÈ Luwak (42 E. Cross St.) and Ypsilanti Food Co-op (312 North River St.). The kits can be purchased for $5 for 10 bowls or $10 for 20 bowls for sampling chili.
All participants can vote for their favorites; winners will be announced at the end of the evening and the winning recipes will be posted to the SOS Community Services' blog.
Celebrity judge Mayor Schreiber looks forward to banishing the season's chill with a few steaming bowls of heated competition.
"Everyone should come down for the Chili Challenge," he declared. "It's a great way to beat the January cold, sample some great chili, and support the housing and food assistance SOS Family Services gives needy families."
Judge Wheeler Smith believes this event offers the public a chance for their vote to really count.
"I may be one of the judges, but the people of Ypsilanti are the jury," she noted. "I hope they'll join me in supporting SOS's mission and indulging in some super chili cooked up by some great chefs. It's worth every penny, and every penny helps the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. What a great way to warm both stomachs and hearts."
Adding further prestige to the celebrity panel is Pete Thomas, a serious student of food and $100,000 winner on NBC's "The Biggest Loser."
"After losing 185 pounds in nine months, I would consider myself a 'refined food expert,'" Thomas said.
"And after I've done my morning exercise routines in anticipation of my fair share of tasting, I'll eagerly lend a hand and a spoon to the Chili Challenge and to the wonderful organization behind this event, SOS Community Services."
Despite Depot Town's east end dominance in last year's competition, Shannon Gordon believes he's got a card or two up his sleeve.
"My wife will soften up the opposition with her delectable Chocolate Chili," he revealed, "then I'll unleash my secret weapon, the Kitchen Sink Chili with potatoes, corn, cheese, and everything but the kitchen sink."
As for this celebrity judge, competitors should know that I'll thoughtfully savor each sample before rendering a verdict, and though I'll encourage hefty bribes from every entrant, I pledge to serve my post impartially, with almost every dollar of said graft going to SOS.
So, who's up for a chili-icious good time serving a good cause? See you on Saturday.
Pat Grimes is a longtime Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. He can be reached at pshermang@yahoo.com
Not all stories are guaranteed to appear
online. The Web edition contains a reasonable
sampling of the print edition stories.
For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to
subscribe
to the print edition of the paper.
TOP JOBS
