51 chefs compete for honors at Chili Cook-Off
Published: August 23, 2010
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Betsy’s Bar’s 2010 Spice Odyssey won best showmanship for a large entry.
Josie and Kristan Humphreys hand out chili at Josie's Spice-Pot.
ST. THOMAS — Some went for the food, a traditional spicy red stew and cold-weather favorite to be sucked up in shot-glass sized portions. Others attended for the music — blues, reggae and country wafted over the white sand beach.
But everybody at the 26th annual Texas Society of the Virgin Islands Chili Cook-Off on Sunday was swept up in the revelry that is bound to take place when 5,000 people converge on a small tropical beach in the heart of summer.
Yet with all those people, the chili pepper still reigned supreme at the cook-off as 51 chefs competed to create a blissful concoction to capture the hearts and warm the insides of a panel of judges.
After a full morning of cooking and an afternoon of doling out small cups of chili to throngs of hungry people, Jerry May of St. Thomas was named winner of the meat division of the cook-off. As winner, May has the opportunity to compete at the International Chili Cook-Off in Terlingua, Texas, in November.
May’s chili, called Fire In The Sky, impressed the judges with aroma, consistency, red color, taste and aftertaste.
He beat 44 other chefs in the meat division — including four visiting chefs from Texas — to get the win. Ray Calaban of Texas finished in second place.
Jes Latimer of St. Thomas won the vegetarian chili cook-off. Bordeaux farmer Ras Koniah and Dave Pemberton teamed up using local ingredients to bring in second in that division.
The space-age rocket ship booth of Betsy’s Bar 2010 Spice Odyssey won the large showmanship award. Pomeranz Pomerosa won the small showmanship award.
The smell of simmering chili wafted over the beach as women wearing bikinis and men blasting water guns mingled under the mid-day sun.
“This is a great community event. It’s got that backyard barbeque feel to it,” said Erik Ackerson, the Great Pepper of the Virgin Islands Pod of the Texas Society. “I like to say it’s a small beach party for 5,000 of your closest friends.”
While tasting the chili or buying a cold beverage at the event is not free, the proceeds all go to charitable causes.
Ackerson said that each year, the cook-off raises from $45,000 to $50,000. It is dispersed to the Queen Louise Home for the Aged, Dial-A-Ride, St. Thomas Rescue, the V.I. Institute for the Performing Arts and the Family Resource Center.
Results
Winners in the 26th Annual Texas Society of the Virgin Islands Chili Cook-Off
Meat chili
1 — Jerry May, St. Thomas
2 — Ray Calahan, Texas
3 — Nora Chapman, St. Thomas
4 — Gary Brignon, Texas
5 — Sophia Hume, St. Thomas
6 — Shirley Sexton, Texas
7 — Brad Werth, St. Thomas
8 — T.J. Friedel, Texas
9 — Karl Sittig, St. Thomas
10 — Heidi Erwig, St. Thomas
Vegetarian chili
1 — Jes Latimer, St. Thomas
2 — Ras Koniah and Dave
Pemberton, St. Thomas
3 — Heidi Erwig, St. Thomas
Small showmanship
1 — Pomeranz Pomerosa
2 — Brockaway Currence
3 — Oral Roberts/Mojos
Large showmanship
1 — Betsy’s Bar
2 — Saloonatics
3 — Julia Gardner/Malone
