Punctuality was as winning an ingredient for the public as peppers were for the contestants Saturday in the Windmill City Chili Cookoff and Illinois State Championship held in Laurelwood Park.
At noon, the public sampling began of chili prepared by the 27 contestants. About 20 minutes later it was all over.
Contestants concocted their chilies from 7 a.m. until just before noon, when cups were filled and taken over to the judges’ tables. The more than $2,000 raised through entry fees and money paid by the public to sample will be donated to the Batavia Teen Center, said Bill and Cheryl Pierson of Batavia, who organize the cook-off every year.
In the judges’ tent, the judges sat quietly, barely speaking while they waited their taste of the chilies. All the chilies went through one judgment round, narrowing to six for the second and final round of judging.
The cook-off is one of hundreds held throughout the country sanctioned by Chili Appreciation Society International. Qualifying winners join several hundred others at the ultimate cook-off in November, the Terlingua International Competition in Terlingua, Texas. Eligibility is based on either chili points or show points, won for tent decoration.
This year show points, not his chili, will get Larry Gabriel of Batavia to Texas. Red-fire-tipped black wings proclaiming Stealth Bomber were attached to either side of his table where Gabriel’s chili was served by his two sons. Clad in black pants, top and sunglasses, a pesticide face mask dangling from his neck, Gabriel used authentic air traffic flashlights to wave people toward his tent, which was adorned with danger signs and wrapped in yellow caution tape.
A few years ago, Gabriel was just a member of the public, sampling the goodies. “I figured I could do better,” Gabriel said, “so I entered. The first year I crashed and burned. The second time I got second place.”
And he got hooked. “Sometimes I find myself sitting in my kitchen late at night tasting small pieces of ground beef with different kinds of chili powder,” he laughed.
Mike Smith of Batavia has celebrated his last five birthdays as a contestant at the Batavia cookoff. Several years ago, his wife Lynelle joined the contest and this year won 5th place for her chili, making her a Texas contender. Her winning secret: “Add your tomatoes early.”