Well that contest was a success.  We raise over $1,000.00 for our charity in about 1.5 hours.  We entertained the group of just under 100 folks with the Big Fire Truck with sirens blasting pulling up the building with the firemen in full gear, axes, ect…busting through the doors and yelling..”I hear the CHILLI is on fire, and we’re here to put it out!”  Our contest had the element of presentation and we all got our “kesters” handed to us.  The professional chef got concerned after others tasted my chili, and through out all the stops.  He used a hand made tortilla shell bowl, and added a bell pepper overstuffed with everything that has ever been used to compliment chili other than the beer.  I took a white bowl and rimmed the edge like a frozen mexican drink with coarse salt, dried onion flakes, chili power, black pepper and dried parsley, which looked different and I topped it with cheese, and multi-colored tortilla strips which matched the rimming.  Nice try, just not good enough for the top spot.  Out of 260 points between us I was only 3 points away from the win.  The judges didn’t believe my story of La Dama de Azul or the lady in blue or Sister Mary from the 1600’s being the first to introduce chile to the United States.  I was penalized 5 points for “BSing the judge, who was a real sitting judge.  It was fun and we raised some cash for a good cause.  Thanks again to all.
 
Best,
JOHN