From Sherry Davis:
What a day - just cold at first then here came the wet - 48 cooks braved the late winter weather to participate in the 31st Annual Pasadena Pod Cook off. It was a great turn out - 3 World Champs, a couple of 2008 top ten winners, a couple of 2008 finalists and a bunch of past winners came out. Also Boone and Kathy braved the warmer weather to cook a pot of red with us. We had one group of guys - virgins - from one of the sponsors, brought pop-up, tent and had such a great time that they got hooked and are planning the next cook off to go to.
Thanks to Dorothy & Chuck Spishock, Stacy & Roy Davis, Teena & Taylor Miller, Bryan Hebert for his voice during announcements and everyone else for helping put on a successful cook off. Pat Krenek & Sharon Dozier helped with the silent auction and what great items were donated.
Also Roy Davis did a magnificent job with the trophies - hope we have them for next year.
OK Winners - just to let everyone know 1st and 2nd were outright, 3rd & 4th were tied, 6th and 7th and 8th were tied and it took 3 more pulls to break 7th & 8th and 9th - 15th were tied. This is the closes have ever seen.
1. Dana Plocheck
2. Roy Davis
3. Maxine Reed
4. Vern Gilpin
5. Diana Hoy
6. Dee Hay
7. Sherrie Davis
8. Cindy Reed-Wilkins
9. Bruce Wilkins
10. Monette Brich
Show
1. Chuck Spishock
2. Sharon Dozier
3. Stacy Davis
From Diane Benjreman:
Dear Casi,
We are a proud new member of CASI - please check out our website: www.kosherchilicookoff.com and as we are the major fund raising event for our small synagogue here in the Heart of Texas (we like to think)...our synagogue, celebrating it's centennial this year, though small, has a heart as big as Texas!
I'm the Co-Chair for the 16th Annual Tiferet Israel Kosher Chili Cookoff
March 22, 2009 11am-4pm
Tiferet Israel Congregation
10909 Hillcrest, (corner Royal)
Dallas, TX 75230
and below is a press release with some of the details - but, you can view the DVD trailer about our cookoff if you check out the website above....
I would like to please include information about our forthcoming - very soon! - March 22 TIKCC and the information is below. Two of our judges - Mike Sweet (who judges at the Terlingua cc) and Doris Coats - winner of CASI recipe '99 - are our judges this year along with our Deputy Chief of Police in North Dallas Jesse Reyes - and in prior years, we've had many celebrities including State Senator Florence Shapiro and a host of t.v. personalities....
We welcome members of CASI to come and join us in this event and would love to be posted on the CASI for upcoming events....so, please do post!
Additionally,
I would like to have to be able to enter the website as a member...and will share that code with our co-chairs and with the President , Mr. Ed Jerome, of the synagogue, as well as our current and future Chili Cookoff Chairs. (do we all have different passwords or just one per Corporate member?)
Below is a copy of a press release that will be in this weeks' DMN.
Sincerely,
Diane Benjamin
Co-Chair
16th Annual
Tiferet Israel
Kosher Chili Cookoff
(the ONLY kosher chili cookoff that we know about!)
The 16th Annual Tiferet Israel Kosher Chili Cook-off is hotter than ever! Co-Chairs Jay Abrams, Diane Benjamin, and Janet Bubis are thrilled to announce that this year's outdoor gala is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Tiferet Israel synagogue, 10909 Hillcrest (at Royal).
Over 35 local team entries will vie for the bragging rights of having the best chili this side of the Pecos. "This is serious chili eating" stated Co-Chili Judging Chair Ann Margolin, along with other well known community volunteer, Harry Kabler, who both will oversee the judges to include: Doris Coats, a first place national chili CASI (www.chili.org) winner; USMC vet Mike Sweet, a Terlingua chili cook-off judge; Harriet Gross, popular free-lance journalist; Fred Washington, expert chili 'maven' ; and, according to co-Chair Diane Benjamin, "to keep the judging kosher", our own, North Central Deputy Chief of Police, Jesse Reyes, will participate in this annual family event that attracts over 3000 local and national visitors annually.
Tiferet Israel Congregation is a unique, synagogue enriched by history, culture, and tradition, which, this year will also be celebrating it's centennial celebration. It is often recognized as the small synagogue with the Big as Texas heart. Known throughout the country for this annual event , it has been cited in many national newspapers, including Jewish Living, and Hadassah magazines. This event has it's own website: www.kosherchilicookoff.com with a DVD produced by Barry "Bazza" Wernick which further demonstrates, in its professional yet 'home spun' , narrative which includes colorful personalities, how Jews in Texas maintain their Jewish identities in a kosher setting, while whether one keeps kosher or not, serves to unify the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and unaffiliated in our community while also attracting non-Jews, all who enjoy good, wholesome, family fun and camaraderie - Texas style!
From the inception of this event, over $70,000 secured from a portion of the profits has been awarded to various local institutions and charities. This year's recipients will be Students Against Terrorism, The Jewish Family Service Career Employment Services, and Life and Fire Safety "Clowns" programs.
Children's entertainment includes a giant slide, rock climbing, bounce house, face painting, hula hoop contests and more. Over 20 vendors will display creative wares for sale. The Silent auction, the Mazik Bros. band will perform with live entertainment following the official presentation of the colors by the Dr. Harvey J. Bloom Post #256 of the Jewish War Veterans of America. The veterans will be a part of the over 200 volunteers, headed by Esther Hazan-Cohen and Shirley Rovinsky, who set up this grand event and monitor its constant stream of traffic which includes a free shuttle service from the Jewish Community Center at 7900 Northaven Road, throughout the day's event. This will be a 'fair to remember' and an opportunity for the Dallas community to gather in harmony while enjoying hot dogs, falafel, food, drinks, entertainment and all you can eat CHILI - all for $10 for adults and $5 for children - kids under 3 are free. For more information: www.tiferetdallas.org
President Ed Jerome
From Ghon Eckley
Help a fellow chili head realize his dream:
Name Your Dream Assignment is a contest where you name your dream photographic assignment, and the public votes to help you win. Many of you know my passion for photography, and how I would love for it to become a full time profession. Please help me fulfill this dream! I currently have 100 votes and am in 36th place! I need to be in 20th place – and stay there - to make it into the finals. It only takes 5 minutes to vote - please do – and using all your email accounts! Send this on to all your friends as well - please!
My dream Photo Assignment will be to document how Native Americans across the entire United States and Canada on and off reservations hold on to their culture, beliefs, and identity in the 21st century.
To vote, visit http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/the-ideas/Geckley/native-american-life/ and click the icon to the left that reads "Pic it". You will have to register for a user account, which is unfortunately needed before you can vote (one vote per email account). I know this is a pain, but as long as you don't click the magic box, you shouldn't get spam. After you register, you will have to click on a link from your email, then log in. Upon login, you will be back at my dream assignment, where you can click Pic It again - and your vote will be registered. Feel free to leave comments too - but click Pic It first! Comments help me in visibility, but don't count for votes. Let me know that my chili friends are helping me out!
You can watch me and my son Jonathan beg for your votes on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gysSPTjCCQ
Thanks everyone – I’ll beg you one more time closer to the deadline.
Thanks!
Ghon Eckley
From Alan Dean:
We’ve been working on getting the final sponsorship commitments. The economy is hurting some of our good supporters and some of our ongoing sponsors are unable to contribute or to contribute at the level they have in the past. Johnson City Bank, on the other hand, significantly increased their sponsorship. As you can imagine, in a small town like this, businesses are approached weekly to sponsor some sort of activity.
The Chamber of Commerce has been one of our best sponsors, contributing thousands of dollars in promotions. This can be seen by the number of new cooks and articles about the cookoff from all over the state. It is really important for cooks and spectators to have a presence in town to justify this ongoing commitment. This means going to the shops that support us as well as the art galleries, etc. It appears likely that we will get a bus and driver from the National Parks Service to run shuttles into town. Waiting for final approval.
Most of the beer has been ordered. Bud products come from another source and I hope to have that taken care of this afternoon. I’m waiting to find out about the donation of judging beer. The person at Coleman Distributing has not called me back as he was supposed to. There’s a chance he’ll be back in this afternoon. If that doesn’t work, I may have a national contact with Coors.
Bob Anderson has really hustled to put together a business/civic organization division for us. We might have as many as 20 Johnson City groups competing. We hope this should significantly increase local spectators.
I’ve been talking to a lot of vendors. Gosh, they worry themselves to death trying to handicap the best event to attend.
Chili awards have been finished. We will have new awards for 2nd through 20th this year. I think you’ll like them.
We had a challenge of finding a way to keep the beer cold this year. I found a local business that purchased a walk-in cooler from a defunct liquor store. It’s currently on their trailer and we can pull it to the Showbarn and use it.
Currently, we have 110 chili cooks and 18 barbecue cooks registered. I have no idea how that compares with this date last year.
We also got the trash dumpsters donated.
From Blu Daniels:
Rose City Chili Pod, Tyler, Texas 28th annual chili cookoff at Gander Mountain;
Saturday winners for CASI Chili were :
1. Wayne Thompson, Rose City Great Pepper, Bullard (Q)
2. Helen Conley, Houston, TX
3. Kay Lefler, Bardwell, TX
4. Doris Greenlees, Houston, TX
5. Karen Bowden, Malakoff, TX
6. Katie Abbot, Flint, TX
7. Phil Greenlees, Houston, TX
8. Ken Richards, Houston, TX
9. Lisa Duggan, Many LA.
10 David Lefler, Bardwell, TX
Showmanship
1. Skull Island, David Lake, Jacksonville, TX
2. Flaming-O, Pam Clark, Ontario, CA
3. Black Out, Joey Morris, Tyler, TX
Local Division
1. Black Out, Joey Morris, Tyler
2. Nat Arriola, Tyler
3. Slam Dunk, Brenda Simmons, Tyler
People's Choice:
Black Out, Joey Morris
Beans; David Lefler, Bardwell, TX
Wings: Black Out, Joey Morris, Tyler, TX
Sunday winners for CASI Chili
1. Wayne Thompson, Bullard, TX
2. Jacob McCullough, Jacksonville, TX
3. Bob Conley, Houston, TX
4. Karen Bowden, Malakoff, TX
5. Glen Horne, Shreveport, LA
6. Larry Wampler, Terrell, TX
7. Judy Russell, Shreveport, LA
8. Pamela "Blu" Daniels, Winona, TX
9. Teresa Peters, Shreveport, LA
10 Helen Conley, Houston, TX
Showmanship:
1. Freedom, John Daniels, Winona, TX
2. Road Warrior RoadKill, Larry Wampler, Terrell, TX
3. Twisted Branch, Karen Bowden, Malakoff
I regret to inform everyone that was planning to attend the 4th annual Lee Harveys Chili Cook-off on March 21st in Dallas that it has been cancelled for reasons beyond my control. Chalk this up to another reason we do not have chili cook-offs in the city of Dallas. I sincerely apologize to everyone who had planned on attending this event. Please put the word out to everyone you know.
Thank you,
Chad McCraw, 972-268-4038
From Mama Sue Caffey:
Just getting home on Monday after a blustery fourdays out in the Soccer field at Giddy Ups. We had a great 27th Sightfest and Sot cookoffs. Some of us rolled in on Thursday. John and I left this morning for home.What another wonderful time we all had. Saturday 62 cooks
1, Doyle Smith San Antonio Q'd
2. Rosa Gonzales Garland
3. Johnny Campbell Mealowlakes
4. Norma Homesley Manchaca
5. Greg Martin Leander
6. Barbara Schueler Leander
7. Fread Cielencki San Antonio
8. Jessie Waguespack Austin
9. Debbie Ashman Bastrop
10. Carrie Kinnison Marble Falls
Show
1. Carrie Kinnison Marble Falls
2. Mike Park Bastrop
3. Linda Odom Manchaca
Sunday 4
1. Donna Conrad Crawford Q'd
2. Kathi Auten Seguin
3. Doyle Smith San Antonio
4. Melodie Smith San Antonio
5. Kevin Daugherty Leander
6. Steve Nadeau Boerne
7. Robert Talavera Kyle
8. Joe Trigo Bastrop
9. Kelly Talavera Kyle
10.Neal Doss Georgetown
Show
1. Mike Park Bastrop
2. Melodie Smith San Antonio
3. Sabrina Kleitz Seguin
The Lions and Sot Pod and the children that receivethe eyeglasses, wish to thank all of you that came out Saturday and Sunday to support Sight and Sot. Thanks to Jeannette Cardenas, our Head Judge, JohnCaffey, our referee, our Talliers, Billy Doss, Bucky Seelig, and a cast of thousands.... Thanks to all ourmonitors, our judges, our Silent Auction providers, and especially for your love and hugs. We ate many meals together, drank a few or many, and just visited. I was told by one cook the he really enjoyed the cook off, as he had heard nothing negative. One of the cook's father remarked that he now could see why they (his kids) enjoyed cooking chili, that he had never met such nice people and had never felt so welcomed. That'swhat we are about. Thank all of you who came andsupported us. Sot Pod presented Nancy with a Corporate Membership Placque. She was thrilled. Myapologies to Bucky and Ken for not recognizing themon stage. We are always proud to have our CASIDirectors present, but since these two are our own"Home Boys", I simply forgot. You are appreciated and Sot is proud that we sent you on up...GOD BLESS USALL AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. Mama Sue Caffey
From Renee Moore:
The April 4 Alabama State Chili Championship will be held at a different location than previously reported. The Saturday cookoff will be held in the same location as the Friday night cookoff at the Gulf Shores Adult Activity Center, 260 Clubhouse Drive. These will both be indoor cookoffs with all tables and chairs provided. There’s a full kitchen for cleanup. Everything can be left on site Friday night for the cookoff that follows on Saturday.
After the monsoon rains of last year, an indoor cookoff will be very welcome!
From Doug Hudspeth
In Memory of:
Ken Hudspeth – August 14, 1945 – January 14, 2009
For those of you who remember Ken, I would like to let you know that Ken passed away on January 14, 2009. His service is scheduled at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211 on Wednesday, March 18 at 2:00PM.
Ken was very involved in CASI chili from the early 1980’s until the early 1990’s. He served as CASI Executive Director from 1986 – 1989. He was on the Board of Directors that selected the current CASI site at Rancho CASI de Los Chisos and was instrumental in establishing the Old 320 sites. Ken held other various offices in Cowtown, DAM and TOT Pods. He also served as the chairman for the 1985 Great Peppers meeting held in Dallas and was instrumental in the “Great Peppers for One Terlingua” forum held during that meeting. Ken established the Texas Open Committee that was responsible for working with the Lewisville Parks and Recreation Department to host the Texas Open Cook-off when it was held at Lewisville Lake Park.
Ken was a Vietnam Veteran, serving in the United States Navy on active duty from 1963 to 1966 and as a reservist from 1966 to 1969. He leaves behind two children, Kristopher Hudspeth and Kassandra “Kasey” Hudspeth and two beautiful grand-daughters, Aydan and Adyson Hudspeth.
From Dave Hewitt:
Well here it is almost mid March and the wind seems to keep blowing.
We held the Garland High School CCO for the March Of Dimes and had 20 cooks come to help the March Of Dimes. We had an excellent sponsor in Mel as she had the CCO and the GHS arts and crafts show lead. There were maybe 50 different Arts and Crafts set up for the public. I look forward to helping Mel with the CCO each year as it was fun and an excellent sponsor team to work with. The winners of the CCO were as follows:
Chili
1 Gene Beaman
2 Mike Rider
3 Bonnie Loxterman
4 Jonnie Sullivan
5 Steve Heaser
6 Pat Langley
7 Morris Moss
8 Frances Sullivan
9 Nancy Hewlett
10 Rex Jones
Note Rex did not get 11th as he is known to hold the record on.
Show
1st Bonnie Loxterman
2nd Dave Hewlett
3rd Nancy Hewlett
Area Ref was Toni Bowman
Pod member news:
Gil Hewlett fell on Monday at home and has 3 broken ribs and a broken ankle. He is in a wheel chair for now and the ribs keep him from using crutches. Our prayers go out to him.
I want to welcome 2 new CASI and DAM POD member from the GHS CCO, Becky VanUum and Rene VanUum.
From Bruce Stewart:
I just wanted to thank all the CASI members, cooks and visting Elks that came out to cook at the Irving Elk's lodge. We had Elks from Wichita Falls, Grapevine, Arlington and Irving. Thanks again for supporting Friends of CASI. Your lodges will not be forgotten.
Bruce Stewart
Form the Mason Dixon Pod
Come out and support the Men Who Wear Pink (MWWP)in respect and support for the fight against Breast Cancer
ONLY 15 More DaysUpdates and Prize Announcements
2009 3rd AnnualSave the TaTas Chili Cook Off Have you signed up?
March 28, 2009 - Atlantic Tractor, Whiteford, MD
Chili Cook Offs
FIRST Massach The Mason Dixon Pod is a loose collection of slightly off-centered Chili heads headquartered in Maryland with members from Pennsylvania, Virginia, DC, Texas, Conneticut and other states where we have chili friends. 2008 chili year was our banner year by raising over $23,000 for charities. We are looking to you to help us raise even more in 2009.
The sponsors, Atlantic Tractor, and local businesses, Galvinell Meat Co., Inc have stepped up to show how much they want us to be there. Remember it's no holds barred, just about anything goes in our show category, can you out do last year?guys wear pink in support for one of our charities SUSAN G KOMEN FOR THE CURE.
First Place Red:
Pork loin roasts/chops 17lbs avg15 lbs ground beef
4 lbs pork sausage
2 back loin beef roast 4 lb avg
back loin sirloin steaks 4 lb avg
6 lbs hot dogs
5 t bone steaks 12-14 oz avg
4 lbs sliced bacon
11 lbs frying chicken
5 lbs sliced american cheese
4 lbs margarine
Price this out at your local grocery store, bet you can't get it for the $20 chili competition entrance fee. Second Place Red:
John Deere Pro gas string trimmer ... it is time to trim those yards. Your "significant other" and your neighbors will be impressed when you start up your brand new John Deere (no imitation import) gas powered trimmer that YOU WON by cooking the second place chili .... wonder what first place winner is doing with all that " beef roast, sirloin steaks, hot dogs, pork loin, ground beef, bacon, chicken ..."
Peoples Choice Award: We will be selling 6 cup tasting kits with judging coupons so the public can taste and vote on your chili whether CASI competition, throwdown, "Moma's Special", or whatever (rules: you have to eat some of what you cook). The cook with the most Peoples Choice tickets will receive a percentage of the "Tasting Kit" sales.And there will be Trophies!First time cooks ..... Join CASI & MDP and your competition fee is waived ... another $20 savingsAnd there is a chance that Alex's Breakfast Bar will be open for early arrivals 8-9 am ... chili eggs, more bacon, bagels and cream cheese, and fortified juice ......
MDP Backyard .......... June 27, 2009
The MDP Backyard a dressed down, laid back Chili Cook Off is tentatively scheduled for June 27, somwhere in the Old Line State. We will be have Pod elections, possibly some championship BBQ, some beverages and alot of points to be earned for that trip to TICC. We will be looking for new members to step up and help make this pod and chili cook-offs a success. Ideas, characters and enthusiasm welcome.
Upcoming MDP Chili Cook-Offs
Broadleaf Tobacco wants us back on August 1, 2009 to have a CCO benefiting the "Wounded Warriors". Last year we raised $2620, this year we can do better. A nationally sponsored Lawn Mower Race sponsored by the city of Laurel wants us to have a CCO on September 19, 2009. This will be a great chance to get those last points for TICC. Behnkes' Nursery is already announcing the return of the 2nd Annual Behnkes Extreme CCO on October 3, 2009. They were so impressed with our participation and enthusiasm they are talking about more prizes and suprises.
What is happening in PA, VA & NJ ..........
Mass. State Championship ...... August 15, 2009Come for the First Ever Massachusetts State CASI Championship! Top 3 MA State cooks auto qualify for TICC, First place is an auto qualifier regardless of State of residence. Great country fair with music all day long, truck and OX pull, women's skillet pitching contest, men's chainsaw tossing contest, all sorts of homemade goods to sample, livestock and plenty of fun to go around. Stay with us Saturday night and you will be treated to movies on the big screen while sitting on bails of hay in a beautiful country setting. This is a cook-off to plan for!Camping in the area. Cooks rate at local hotel for Friday and Saturday night. Contact Jen Windsor for additional information. Stay tuned for updates.
On the Chili Trail,
Rick Sievering Pepper PopperMason Dixon Pod
