Glasgow's Chili Masters Fire It Up

With winter upon us, the Elk's Lodge 1922 turned up the heat at their first annual chili cook-off on Jan. 6. Seven local teams of veterans and rookies came together to showcase their skills in hopes of winning the cash prize. With an entry fee of $25, each team was given three hours to cook their masterpieces and present it to the judges. Cooking began at 1 p.m. and judging started at 4 p.m. Once the cooking started, it didn't take long for the room to fill with the aroma of onions, peppers and meat.

Each team showed up with their own styles and flair. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, comprised of Jessica Holom, Stephanie Holom, Karen Waarvik and Kristen Waarvik, even brought their stand-in cutout of two salsa dancers and matching outfits. And if you ask them, they are the first Red Hot Chili Peppers, as there were two teams with the same name in the competition. With a spicy blend of italian meats, their chili was poised to delight the palette and tingle the sinuses.

Rene Clampitt and Ruth Dowell, the other Red Hot Chili Peppers, took it in good spirits and declared their chili would make them stand apart. And they did not disappoint. Clampitt and Dowell had the only tomatoless chili in the group, quickly making their chili stand out against the rest.

Helland & Daughter, comprised of Pete and Olivia Helland, brought their own spin with a chili to be eaten with melon. Sweet and spicy mixed together in an unexpected, but pleasurable flavor,while Kevin Taylor easily had the spiciest chili in the group. "If your nose isn't running, then it isn't chili," he exclaimed with a smile. If there was a comedy award for chili, Taylor would have won it. With a quick wit and plenty of stories, his table was definitely one of atmosphere.

Team Sam, comprised of Sam Feezell, worked quietly but quickly to deliver his chili. His was a classic recipe and with a thick and flavorful bowl, you wouldn't walk away disappointed. The Chili Heads, comprised of Kim Enkrud and Ruth Waarvik, presented their chili with confidence. Even after trying multiple bowls, their chili tickled the taste buds to leave a pleasant and distinguished flavor. Team Porcupine Road Kill, comprised of Zak and Lindsey Peterson, showed up in team shirts and a fierce attitude. As veterans, chili is serious business, but it didn't stop them from joining in on the laughs.

Overall, there wasn't a bad bowl in the bunch. Each chili stood out on their own, but only one could walk away the winner. Third place went to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Clampitt and Dowell, with their tomatoless chili. Second place went to the Chili Heads, while team Porcupine Road Kill took the first place prize and the People's Choice Award with their bacon-infused chili. Not surprising, since bacon makes everything better. If you ask the Petersons, they remain confident the competition will be theirs next year too.

Even though they were competitors, everyone was in good spirits. It seemed less like a competition and more like a chili gathering. With drinks flowing and food available, competitors and spectators were having a blast. The Elk's Lodge 1922 are hoping for the same thing next year with a bigger turnout. If you want to show off your chili mastery or want to eat some free chili, contact the Elk's Lodge 1922 to find out more information.

With multiple events throughout the year, Elk's Lodge always has something going on.

To find out about the latest events, call 406-228-2233.