Chili

During fall break, the staff association organized a chili cookoff in Garlock Dining Commons. Anyone could enter their special chili, and everyone was invited to come test and vote. I wasn't too keen on going since chili has not been one of those foods I tolerate well, but my friends were all going, and I was asked to join, so I went with the caveat that I might not eat too much.

We entered the door and were handed three uncooked dried beans and a plastic spoon. The beans were our voting 'chips.' The line was long but once you got to the first table, you were happy it was moving slowly. Each contestant offered you a small sample of their wares in a tiny plastic cup. They had a glass canning jar in front of their crockpot, and if you liked theirs the best, you 'voted' for them by dropping your bean in their jar.

I took the first sample. It was small - no more than a spoonful or two. And it was good! So was the next one. Then I discovered the baskets of fresh Wegman's Italian bread sliced up and thoughtfully placed so you could cleanse your palate between spoonfuls. Still concerned that I would regret it later, I carefully avoided anything with corn or onions in it. What a delightful variety from white bean chicken chili to white tail venison chili to salsa chili (I didn't try that one). Before I realized it, I had eaten the equivalent of a whopping sized bowl of a mixture of different concoctions. This could be bad.

There was also a table of cornbread so moist it was like dessert cake. I tried a piece, all the while telling myself that it was corn based and likely not to set too well. We sat around the table seriously discussing the merits of each entry. I took my time deciding where to cast my ballots. The venison one definitely got my vote - I haven't had a good venison steak in ages! And I liked the white bean chicken one with its big chunks of white meat. I cast my final vote for the first chili - just the right amount of vinegary sweet taste, not too hot, good texture.

It was nice to see people from other buildings on campus laughing and catching up with changes and each other. Definitely an activity I will attend again next year. I just hope I don't have the piper to pay tomorrow! Yikes!