As temperatures began to cool slightly last weekend, locals were “feelin’ chili” at the Centennial Chili Challenge at Riverside Park last Saturday, hosted by Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach.

Sunrise Rotary picked up the wooden spoon from the Indian River County firefighters, hosts of the former Indian River County Chili Cook-off, and promised the event – one of many planned to mark the City of Vero Beach Centennial – would be “hot stuff.”

“It was a natural move as we, as a Rotary club, have been a part of it and cooked in it for years. And won it,” noted Arthur Hodge, event chair. “On top of that the Vero Beach Club – what we call the mother club – started in 1926. So the local Rotary has been around almost as long as the city, making the Centennial tie-in obvious.”

Winds arrived in the nick of time to blow away remnants of the red tide, which he said could have ruined Rotary’s second attempt at stirring the chili pot. “Last year it rained Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so we had to cancel the cook-off. This year we’re ready to go.”

Chili-heads made no beans about it as they sampled their way through 22 different chilies, from wild turkey and venison to smoked meats, chocolate and shrimp. There was white chili and red chili; spicy or sweet; with a mix of old family, award-winning and experimental recipes. Each chef claimed special ingredients, too – TLC, ghost chili peppers, beans, shrimp and beer.

Chefs toiled over large cauldrons, all bubbling like a witch’s brew on the cusp of All Hallows Eve. In a nod to Mother Nature’s recent nasty trick, Vero Beach Lifeguard Association served up Red Tide Chili from Waldo’s. The American Cancer Society’s Teamwork Chili was comprised of chilies made by four different people combined into one big pot. And the team from Sailfish Brewing Company divulged their secret – the beer. Not only the 3 ½ gallons of beer in the chili, but the 10 gallons the cooks consumed as they worked.

Attendees voted on their favorite concoctions as ‘heated’ debates loomed over whether chili should have beans, if white chili counts, and even whether chili is a soup or a stew. In the end all agreed the evening was a delicious success – especially The Source, which took home the People’s Choice Award for its Classic Chili.

A cadre of local media personalities, including yours truly, considered aroma, texture, heat, aftertaste and color while judging the chilies, dished up in a blind tasting within five categories: nonprofit, brewery, restaurant, civic and independent.

The Humdingers and Slip and the Spinouts entertained the crowds as they digested their chili and enjoyed the camaraderie.

Proceeds benefit Sunrise Rotary’s community projects and scholarships. Next up: the Florida Craft Brew & Wingfest at Royal Palm Pointe on Feb. 16. For more information, visit sunriserotaryverobeach.org.

Winners

People’s Choice: The Source, Classic Chili
Nonprofit: American Cancer Society -Relay for Life Teamwork Chili
Brewery: Sailfish Brewing Company – Chili Beer
Restaurant: Pizzoodles – Italian Chili
Civic Organization: Vero Beach Lifeguard Association, Red Tide Chili from Waldo’s
Independent: Hodge Podge, Chili