TOMS RIVER – It was the perfect “May” day for chili, with temperatures lingering around 60 degrees, windy skies and a blanket of grey clouds that let out a light drizzle every now and then.
Vendors lined Washington Street from Wells Fargo to the Ocean County Courthouse on May 20, just as they did two weeks earlier for Food Fest, to ladle out their sweet, smoky and hot concoctions of homemade chili for the 28th Annual NJ State Chili & Salsa Cook-Off.
For $7, chili lovers attending the event were given a cup and spoon, plus a yellow ticket and two marbles. The yellow ticket was to be given to their favorite restaurant participating in the cook-off, and one marble each to their favorite chili and salsa maker.
While the 15 or so types of chili showed a bit of variation, with some swapping in short rib, chorizo or pork for the traditional beef, what really made vendors stand out were their names, which were as creative as White Bean Wasted, Trailer Trash Chili and Habanero Brothers, who had their booth decorated with a sunglassed skeleton and painted skull heads. Needless to say, their chili was on the spicy side.
Local restaurants participating in the cook-off included A Thyme for All Seasons, Café Enigma and The Office Restaurant & Lounge, which are all located on Main Street.
Vendors selling jewelry, handbags, ice cream, gyros, roasted corn, Italian ice, funnel cake and pizza were wedged in between the chili pots, along with radio stations 94.3 The Point, 100.1 WJRZ, 95.9 The RAT and live entertainment by the Ocean County College Jazz Band.
The Winners
1st Place ICS Red Chili Winner – Kitt Hoff
2nd Place ICS Red Chili Winner – Nathan Gramm
3rd Place ICS Red Chili Winner – Mike Freedman
1st Place ICS Chili Verde – Nathan Gramm
2nd Place ICS Chili Verde – Kurt Leithner
3rd Place ICS Chile Verde- Eric Scott
1st Place ICS Salsa Winner – Nathan Gramm
2nd Place ICS Salsa Winner – Judi Omerza
3rd Place ICS Salsa Winner – Jason Willis
1st Place People’s Choice Chili Winner – Heather Maddoloni
2nd Place People’s Choice Chili Winner – Mario Saccoccio
3rd Place People’s Choice Chili Winner – Mike Ridge
1st Place People’s Choice Salsa Winner – Frank Benowitz
2nd Place People’s Choice Salsa Winner – Mike Ridge
Best Booth – Harbanero Brothers
Best Commercial Chili Winner – A Thyme For All Seasons
