Wrap Up

The Old Time Chili Cookoff and Cruisin' for Miracles car show drew a lot of people throughout the day on April 17, 2010 in downtown Asheboro. Here's what the Courier-Tribune wrote ...

Mayor David Smith broke a tie for the best overall chili. Four independent judges each dipped their spoon into the same bowl from each of the 13 cooks. When the numbers were all tallied up, there was a tie between Kim Jarmon and Danny Tyson. The Mayor tasted them both and broke the tie. Bobby Simmons came in third.

By a landslide, Charles Fowler won the People's Choice award.

From a technology standpoint, it takes awhile to post images to Facebook and this Website, but please check back throughout the week to see them. And, thanks to students at Randolph Community College for being roaming photographers. They and Greta Lint captured chili, cars and a lot more. You may see yourself!

Cooks on Live TV

This week, some of the cooks have appeared on WFMY News 2 and WGHP Fox 8 morning shows to show you how they prepare their chili. Scroll down for some of the clips.

Not all chili cooks participated because there are 14 cooks - and there were only 9 time slots to fill on the morning TV shows.

Get your pad and paper and take notes ... some secret ingredients are brown sugar and pineapple ...

Meat Options for Chili

 

Gotta Have Cold Milk and Cornbread!

 

Defending 2009 Champ - People's Choice Award

 

NC Zoo Chili Cookoff Winner

 

County Cafe Chili

Hawaiian Explosion Chili

Saturday's Schedule of Events

Old Time Chili Cookoff & Cruisin’ for Miracles Car Show
Location: Bicentennial Park and Sunset Avenue, downtown Asheboro

7 a.m. Cooks begin cooking

8:30 a.m. Mandatory Head Cooks’ Meeting at the Judges Booth

8:30-10:30 a.m. Car Show Registration

8:30 a.m. Chili tasting tickets go on sale

11 a.m. Car Show Judging begins

11 a.m. Beer tent opens

Noon Chili Cooks submit chili to judges before any samples are offered to the public

Noon Old Time Chili Cook-Off opens to the public

12:15 p.m. Public sampling of chili begins (ticket required)

12:15-5:45 Entertainment on the Stage

12:15-1:45 p.m. Rockinhorse

1:45-2:15 p.m. Santosha Hoop Dancing

2:15-3:45 p.m. The Fairlanes

4:15-5:45 p.m. Lawyers Guns & Money

DJ Bama to play music in breaks.

3:30 p.m. Car Show Awards

4:30 p.m. Chili Awards

6 p.m. Event ends

LIVE TV

So what happens on live TV? You never know ...

Some of the cooks participating in the Old Time Chili Cookoff will be appearing on WGHP Fox 8 on Wednesday morning from 6-8:30.

Then on Friday, some more cooks will be on WFMY from 6:15 - 7:45 a.m.

You may want to copy down their list of ingredients. And yes, each batch is made to taste, not a recipe!

Our New Logo

Thanks to Bill Lunsford in Asheboro for designing our new logo ...

Thanking our Sponsors

Firecrackers
The Courier-Tribune
WKXR Radio

Fire Alarms
Varsity Sports Restaurant
Signs & Designs

Hot Shots
Fresh Cuts Butcher & Seafood

Fire Starters
Top Dog Promotions
Catbird Press
Pip Printing
Community One Bank - Asheboro locations

What Makes Great Chili? Not All Agree.

What goes into making a really good chili? People in Asheboro will find out in two weeks during the Old Time Chili Cookoff.


The event will be held, rain or shine, on Saturday, April 17 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Bicentennial Park in historic downtown Asheboro. The Golden Corral Cruisin’ for Miracles car show will be held there at the same time. Organizers anticipate more than 100 cars will show up if the weather is nice.

Admission is free to both events. If you want to cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award, you’ll need to buy a $5 tasting ticket. You’ll get a ballot and wristband allowing you to sample chili. The overall winner will take home $500 cash.

So what will tasters be looking for? Heat? Flavor? Texture? Aroma? Color? Appearance? And does chili really have to be hot?

Event organizers Cindy Wilkins, Greta Lint and Mac Whatley all disagree.

“It’s a good thing we’re not judging,” says Lint. “We never would reach a consensus! Mac likes the Mexican mole sauce.”

“Well, it’s got an unusual flavor that I really like,” says Whatley. “It’s an unconventional chili sauce where I can taste the chocolate. Mole sauce is my favorite. However, regarding more local palates, I like chili with beans and even some pasta mixed in.”

Wilkins says she likes traditional North Carolina thick chili. “I don’t want it runny. I like mine chunky. I want to see the vegetables. Well, you can mix them up in a blender and create a thick sauce, but as long as I know they’re in there, I’m happy.”

On the flip side, Lint says she just prefers chili without the beans. “I like the taste, but not necessarily what they do to me,” she chuckles. “You know, few will admit that!”

She adds that the older she gets, the more she appreciates the combination of heat and sour cream. “It’s the after-affect, the one that sneaks up on you that I like,” she explains. So her plan is to eat some chili, neutralize the heat with some home made ice cream and wash it all down with cold beer. Varsity Sports Restaurant will provide the beer tent.

Throughout the past two years, Lint has interviewed quite a few cooks and she’s learned that it’s best to test your recipe before you enter it. “Cooks have told me that when you’re cooking several gallons of chili, the consistency may not be the same as if you’re cooking a smaller amount for your family. Some beans stay firm; others get mushy. Not all meats cook up the same way.”

The Old Time Chili Cookoff is still accepting cooks. For more information, call Cindy Wilkins at 430-8372.

Thanks to the City of Asheboro

We're very pleased that the City of Asheboro is helping with this event. The City is providing Port-o-johns, trash cans, security, fire protection and guidance and trash removal.

Periodically, we've gone back to the City asking for advice or help, and leaders have been very supportive.

So, to our Mayor, City Council and City Staff, we thank you for all you're doing to help us have a fun and highly successful chili cookoff and cruise-in.