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| Jordan enjoying his chili The Bay Net Photo by Anna Bedford |
Chili seemed to be a hit even with the young children at Benjamin Banneker Elementary School on Friday. Twelve contestants lined up their pots in a chili cook-off, a fundraiser for a new sound system at the school.
The chili ranged from sweet to hot, and all went down well with parents and children alike. Young Jordan (left) was a particularly appreciative taster. “Sorry I keep on eating ’em,” he said to his mom, Sherry McManus, as he reached for more crackers to pile the chili onto. While his older brother, Joe, seemed disappointed that his step-mom’s chili wasn’t going as fast as the sweet chili next to them, Jordan was happy to be surrounded by chili and taking part in the cook-off. “It doesn’t matter about winning,” he said, “we’re just here to make a donation.”
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| Annie Grace Myers and Carson Myers The Bay Net Photo by Anna Bedford |
Carson Myers (right) was gasping for water after trying a particularly hot bowl of chili. The sweet chili seemed especially popular, but others were a hit, too. “The turkey chili rocks!” said Rebecca Barns when asked where she would cast her vote.
Among the other contesters were Chris Bistline, with a black bean and mushroom dish, and Erick Sjoblom with his “Dump Chili.”
“It’s called ‘Dump Chili’ because I basically just dump everything in the pot and heat it up,” he laughed.
At the end of the cook-off “Grandma’s Awesome Chili” proved to be the most awesome of the lot, and its chef, Melinda, of Leonardtown, was awarded the chili bowl prize, a trophy made especially by an art teacher at Banneker.