Photo by Kipp Abbott
The 2010-edition of Clintonville Chili Bowl cookoff takes place on Saturday, January 30th at MapleGrove UMC. Competitors still have time to register for the event, and participants can show up the day of to taste and judge the winners. Proceeds from the $3 admission fee will go toward UMCOR Haiti Relief efforts.
We recently sat down with Miriam Bowers Abbott, organizer of the Clintonville Chili Bowl to find out more.
Walker Evans: What was the impetus for getting this started three years ago?
Miriam Bowers Abbott: Quite honestly, in Clintonville, we like parties, food and helping others. Sometimes in that order! The Chili Bowl lets us do all three at once. The first Chili Bowl was for the Whetstone Recreation Center, and the second one was for the Clintonville Resource Center. This year we’re donating the proceeds to Haiti relief efforts. We try to make our benefits very affordable too. Admission is only $3, so you don’t have to be rich to help others.
WE: What else has changed about the event over the past three years? Are there any chili style trends?
MBA: Hmm. Sausage chili was a big hit the first year, and seafood chili was oddly popular in the second year… but I haven’t really found a trend. Both years had almost 30 competitors, and lots of great eaters!
WE: Attendees of the event will be tasting chilis and casting votes for the winner. In their role as judges, what should people be looking for a in a good chili?
MBA: Forget about objectivity. It’s impossible. In fact, not to go all deep, but Kierkegaard says “Truth is Subjectivity”. So go with your gut! What do YOU like?
WE: So then what you do you personally look for in a good chili?
MBA: I’m actually not a fan of seafood chili, but I LOVE sausage chili. I don’t mind beans, but lots of people think that’s an abomination!
WE: Are there any specific people or businesses that have already registered that you’re looking forward to trying next week?
MBA: Well, Surly Girl just got involved… so I’ll be trying that one. Weiland’s didn’t want to compete after winning last year, but they will be participating in the non-judged “social” division with three sorts of cornbread. I know some individual competitors who are returning this year, and they’re all on my “to try” list too. CMH Gourmand dominated last year and won both second and third places. Who knows what would have happened if he hadn’t been competing against himself with two batches!
Interestingly, lots of people don’t use recipes. Most of the chili there is non-duplicatable. You hear a lot of people talk about how they just threw in some assorted items that they happened to have on hand.
If anyone on Columbus Underground is interested in competing, just send me an email at [email protected] to get registered.
And if anyone wants to attend, taste and judge, the event takes place on Saturday, January 30th from 5-7pm at MapleGrove UMC, located at Henderson & High. The admission fee is $3 and proceeds go toward UMCOR Haiti relief efforts.
Photo by Mark Siegal
