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HomeNewsArchivesA Taste of Texas Coming Sunday with Chili Cook-off

A Taste of Texas Coming Sunday with Chili Cook-off

Aug. 21, 2007 — Legend has it that frontiersman Kit Carson's dying words were, “Wish I had time for just one more bowl of chili.”
Too bad Carson won't be around Sunday for the Texas Society of the Virgin Islands' 23rd annual Chili Cook-off at noon at Bolongo Bay Beach Resort. Though Carson might wonder at all the hubbub over a simple bowl of red, none of the thousands in search of a bite of chili each year wonder at all. The event is a great excuse to dress up as a silly Texan (or most anything else), meet friends, do some swimming, some drinking, some dancing or join a tug-of-war or a watermelon-seed spitting contest.
The event has moved from one locale to another over the years, including Sapphire Beach Resort and, for many years, Brewers Bay. One of the most coveted prizes isn't for chili — it’s for showmanship, and the competition is stiff. The beach becomes Chili village, with colorful tents and displays from one end to the other. Betsy's Lava Lounge won out last year over the Water Island Mermaids. In fact, there are two showmanship divisions: Grande for teams with nine or more members, and Lonestar for eight or less.
Years ago, around 1990, one of the most popular shows was put on by Cafe Normandie's dedicated team led by George Johnson with Ninja Turtles Chili, with all his employees donned out in turtle outfits. (Johnson carefully pointed out that the turtle in his chili was raised for consumption.)
The event this year is dedicated to musician RNuisance, who died in the past year. Tributes to Nuisance will come from local artists, including Sun Kings, Guitarganauts, Nicky Russell, a St. Croix country western band and a group of local musicians.
A first this year is a Junior Cook-off for youngsters 11 through 17. A parent must be present to supervise.
The event looks to be a "real biggie," organizer Lori Abbotts said Tuesday. "Right now we have 46 meat chili entries and 11 veggie. It's a record. It'll be a terrific year. This is the third year for veggie chili, and last year we had only three entries."
Entries will be accepted right up until Saturday night, Abbotts said. The tastes are three for a dollar.
Though there's no limit on the fun, rules for preparing the chili are stringent. Abbotts said she expects more than 40 competitors this year. The double-blind judging complies with the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) rules.
The CASI rules dictate all chili must be prepared on site the day of the event, starting with raw meat and without using any fillers, such as beans, hominy, rice or macaroni and without using pre-mixes. Registration fee is $25.
The winner of first prize with the best chili gets two tickets to Terlingua, Texas, to compete in the CASI competition in November, along with a package of other winnings, including resort packages, dinners and merchandise.
Sponsors vary from year to year, but make the whole event possible. This year's major sponsors include Bolongo Bay; Coors Light and Evian Water, distributed by Bellows International; Merchant's Market; American Airlines; Fortress Self Storage; Certified Angus Beef; Innovative Communications; and The Buzz.
All proceeds from the event go to local charities. The charities that will benefit from this year's event are Queen Louise Home for the Aged, the local chapter of the American Red Cross, V.I. Alliance for the Mentally Ill, St. Thomas Rescue, the V.I. Institute of Performing Arts and Dial-A-Ride.
For more information or to sign up, call Lori Abbotts at 474-0019.
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