Chili Cook-Off

On the last weekend of September, we attended our town's annual chili cook-off.  For a small fee you are given a keepsake mug with spoon to taste each chili and a ballot to cast your vote for the top three.  Fifteen local businesses took part in the competition this year.  It was a beautiful autumn day, which really helped to bring out the more than 1500 participants.  The main street was closed off and each competitor had a booth set up with their version of "great chili".

As for the "great chili", I can attest that choosing the top three was a simple task.  Many of the chilies served weren't up to my standards and lacked in depth of flavour.  My favourite was made by a local Mexican restaurant.  Fantastic taste and the perfect amount of heat.  It was served with a garnish of  fresh cilantro salsa which complimented it very well.  As I ate this chili, I instantly thought..."Bingo!  We've got a winner!"  Incidentally, they won the People's Choice Award.

Our town's annual chili cook-off is truly a wonderful street festival and illustrates the sense of community that is still vibrant in small town Ontario.  All in all, we had an amazing afternoon enjoying good food on one of the last few days of warm weather before Mother Nature wraps us in her autumn cloak and readies us for the gales of November.