9th Annual Celebrity Chili Cook-Off

The Charleston Animal Society hosted its annual Celebrity Chili Cook-Off this past Saturday, and just as it has been in years past, it was an enjoyable time.

There is always an interesting variety of chili recipes at the cook-off, some very tasty and some...well, let's just say I would not go back for seconds.

The one thing I have not been able to figure out in my past three years of attending this event, is exactly what is going through the "professional" chefs' minds as they are judging each recipe.
I am sure when it comes to making (& judging) dishes of smoked salmon, duck magret, and petit fours, these men are at the top of their class. However, when it comes to the blue collared meal of chili, they have the expertise of a bubble dancer.

The winners of the past three years are as followed...

BEST IN SHOW

Cook-Off '06: Tanya Brown, 95SX

Cook-Off '07: Brad Franko, NBC 2

Cook-Off '08: Tanya Brown, 95SX

Now I remember my reaction to these chili recipes over the past few years and only the first year I took part in the cook-off ('06) did I think the winner was a good choice. I would have put the 95SX chili in the top 3 of all contenders that year.

Last year, the Brad Franko chili made me confused and sad after the first bite. It was not even so much a chili, as much as it was a beef stew. Terrible choice. Perhaps a good candidate for "Most Unique", but definitely no "Best In Show" chili. If the chili cook-off had Razzie awards (that is the movie award ceremony for the year's worst films) then NBC's '07 chili should have taken the award for "Worst Impression of a Chili Dish."

Then this year...Tanya Brown takes home the gold once again - but why? Were these judges tasting the same chili as me? It was by no means the worst chili at the Maritime Center but, let me put it this way...I wouldn't go bragging to my friends about it.

What is also funny about this year is that channel 2's chili was actually pretty damn decent. I would rank that one in the top 3 this year, even though they came away without a single award.

Maybe the judges need to 'cleanse the palette' between cups of chili. I think they are tasting something different.

But whether I agree with the choice or not, Tanya still wears the belt for best chili, so to her I say, "Congrats."

Even if she did slip some money under the table. ;)

My chili picks: ABC News 4, NBC 2, & NBM Construction