North Beach home to Washington State Chili Cookoff 2018

By Cindy Stearns
Published: 10/21/18 Topics: Cooking, Events, Ocean Shores WA, Restaurants, Things To Do Comments: 0

Washington State Chili Cookoff 2018 qualified four competitors to the World Food Championships from the October 7 event hosted by St. John’s Chapel by the Sea Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Moclips, Washington. Categories were for Texas Chili Red recipes and for Open Chili. “Spicy Spirit” Leonard Kellogg Memorial trophy was also presented. There were 14 competitors at the cookoff from Elma to Everett.

Awards for the Texas Chili Red category were: 1st Place - Ross Lunbeck of Lacey, 2nd Place - Pat Maddock of University Place, 3rd Place - Dave Bock of Auburn, 4th Place - Steve Hart of Everett and 5th Place - Cindy Bock of Auburn. Awards for the Open Chili category (all other types of chili): 1st Place - Dave Bock of Auburn, 2nd Place - Pat Maddock of University Place and 3rd Place - Cindy Bock of Auburn.

The "Spicy Spirit" Leonard Kellogg Memorial Award went to Josh Ericksen of Tacoma. This was the first year this award was presented in honor of Leonard Kellogg of Lynnwood who died September 4, 2018. He had competed in the chili cookoff for years and represented the Washington State Chili Cookoff in 2017, taking 11th place finish at the World Food Championships.

Also competing were Rhonda Lunbeck of Lacey, Brena McDermott of Lake Stevens, Hillary Patton of Yelm, Emily and Tasha Simpson of Lacey, Keifer Schrimsher of Seattle, Jim Volz of Elma and Frank Volz of Grayland.

Races were tight, with ties broken for category winners and others with only one or two separating places. Judges from St. John’s Chapel by the Sea and the community judged each chili on its merits. Rules were followed as a Tolbert Chili Cookoff. This is the society founded by Frank X. Tolbert from the roots of the original first chili cookoffs in Terlingua, Texas.

Golden Tickets to compete in the World Food Championships have been presented to four competitors. Those representing will be Josh Ericksen, Brena McDermott, Keifer Scrimsher and Frank Volz. Volz is headed to the WFC for the third year, last year finishing 12th. The other three will participate for the first time at this level. They also were all new to the state cookoff.

“We were so pleased to have veterans and new cooks join us for this year’s Washington State Chili Cookoff,” Cindy Stearns event producer said. “It’s wonderful having new people join us to carry on the chili tradition in Washington state. And this is the third year we’ve sent competitors to WFC.”

The World Food Championships is the largest competition in Food Sport, where grand champions of previous events convene for a chance at winning the ultimate food crown and a share of hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money. WFC is also the springboard for many up and coming culinary stars and home cooks as they seek TV fame through many well-known food shows and acting opportunities.

Author: Cindy Stearns
Blog #: 0615 – 10/21/18

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