INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Thousands of people descended upon Riverside Park in Vero Beach Saturday night to subject their taste buds to sample after sample of chili and salsa and help raise money for various charities at the same time during the 9th annual Firefighters Chili Cook-off.
“We just kind of focused on the chilis,” said Jenna Molander, who came out to the competition with her friend, Kelly Morgan. It was a first for both of them.
“It’s a good deal – $5 for 10 different chilis,” Morgan said.
The women cast their People’s Choice vote for the Vero Beach Sunrise Rotary Club, explaining that it wasn’t super spicy and slightly sweet.
That’s exactly what the club was going for, according to Past President Arthur Hodge. He said their chili had a sweet entry in the mouth with a full flavor finish.
“We put in tender, loving care and the local flavor,” Hodge said. He resolutely refused to name any of the ingredients in the chili and only divulged that it consists of five different meats.
Despite having cooked 20 gallons of chili for the competition, the Rotary Club ran out of samples before the event ended.
The group wasn’t alone. By 8 p.m., most of the other competitors had also run out.
“It hurts to turn anyone away,” Hodge said, nodding to people who kept coming up to the booth seeking a sample.
Vero Beach Sunrise Rotary Club took home the First Place prize in the Service Organization Division, beating out Relay For Life Indian River.
“We call it ‘Teamwork Chili,’” said Operations Chair Mary Ankeny of her team’s entry. Each volunteer contributed one gallon of their own chili – mixing them together into one.
It was what they did with their inaugural entry into the competition five years ago and it worked – so the method stuck.
Competing in the chili cook-off isn’t just about bragging rights, though Relay For Life Indian River has consistently placed in the Top 3 over the years. It’s about raising awareness, according to Ankeny.
For businesses, it’s a way to get their name out and possibly drum up new customers.
“We were busy, as always,” said What-A-Tavern’s bar manager, Danny Eby. The bar, which entered in the Restaurant Division, ran out of chili even earlier than the Rotary Club.
What-A-Tavern competed in two chili divisions – Traditional and the Turkey and Pumpkin.
“It tastes better than it sounds,” said volunteer Crystal Rich.
Eby said they cooked the turkey and pumpkin chili with cranberry sauce, which balanced the chili with some sweetness.
“It seemed to work,” Eby said. “It went over well.”
The 7-member judges panel seemed to agree – awarding What-A-Tavern First Place in the Restaurant Division.
Event organizer Lt. Dave Dangerfield said he was happy with the Chili Cook-off’s turnout and participation, despite the event being cut down to just one night. In years past, the cook-off has been a two-night affair.
It remains to be seen what impact the truncated event will have on the amount of donations the Indian River County Firefighters Association can give out to various charities. Lt. Dangerfield explained that the organization lost some potential sponsors this year due to the cook-off becoming a one-night event.
This year’s charities are Childcare Resources, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Explorers, and the 4-H.
Lt. Dangerfield said it would be a little while before they would know how much each group would receive.
Along with serving as a fundraiser, Lt. Dangerfield said the Chili Cook-off is also meant as a fun community event – one which families could come out and enjoy a nice night of music.
He said with thousands of people attending each year, “we must be doing something right.”
