The Great and Honorable Chili Commission holds first chili cook-off
Sixteen steaming chili crock pots. Twelve judges. And the winners are ….
On Wednesday night the Great and Honorable Chili Commission of the Colorado House held its first (and hopefully not last) chili cook-off — an opportunity to blow off steam and clear sinuses.
The cook-off was a chance for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to show off both their chili talents and their ability to trash talk. Reps. Lori Saine and Daneya Esgar put together the competition.
A dozen judges — four Republicans, four Democrats and four non-partisan/celebrity judges — tried out the creations, some from lawmakers and a few from spouses.
Several said they worked for days (!) on their chili submissions, testing this way and that to come up with the perfect combination of beans, spices and meats or vegetables for the vegetarian version.
Gathered in a small kitchen off the House floor Wednesday night, the tension was high, with judges scurrying from one crockpot to another and bites of sherbet in between to clear the palate.
