The spicy aroma of simmering chili draws one and all to the downtown area this weekend for the Rotary Club's 29th Annual Chili Cook-Off.
The Cook-Off will be held Sat., Oct. 12 – rain or shine – under the tent on Depot Street by the traffic light and offers up to two dozen varieties of chili, including traditional, vegetarian and exotic. The cost to the public is $10 for all-you-can-eat served in a collectible mug, while supplies last. There's also cider, bread and ice cream. Tasting starts at 11am and continues until the last spoonful is ladled out, usually around 2pm.
Participants vie for bragging rights and cash prizes in three People's Choice categories: First ($200), Second ($100) and Third ($50). Plaques are awarded by three Rotary-appointed judges, headed up by Ludlow Fire Dept. Chief Peter Kolenda, who also decide Favorite, Spiciest and Team Spirit.
The Echo Lake Inn garnered last year's Judges Choice Best in Show title. Hot Damn Chili was named Spiciest, Chili Palmer won for Team Spirit and Vermont Harvest took an Honorable Mention. Hot Damn Chili earned the People's Choice First Prize. Second and Third Place People's Choice winners were perennial participant Chili con Carlos and a newcomer named Mojakka.
The Cook-Off raises funds for the charities of the Ludlow Rotary Club, including scholarships for graduating high school seniors, the Black River Valley Senior Center, Stepping Stones Pre-school, Ludlow Elementary's after-school ski program, Mountainside House Youth Shelter, Maleka House orphanage in Uganda and many more.
At press time sponsors were expected to include Black River Produce/Reinhart Foods, Garvey and Garvey Inc., LaValley Building Supply, Okemo Mountain Resort, Timber Inn Motel, Wilcox Creamery, Wright Construction and others.
The Cook-Off was created by Black River Produce co-founder Steve Birge, an Honorary Rotarian, to raise funds for the Senior Center. This year's Cook-Off also recognizes long-time head judge Richard Harrison, a Rotarian and former Fire Dept. Chief, who died this summer.