 A group of tasters enjoy chili at the downtown
chili cook-off.  Contestant Jim Howaniec gets in to the voting
theme at the chili cook-off.  Winners of the 2008 Downtown Chili Cook-off:
1st Place Winner Don Savino and his wife;
Best Presentation Winner Lynne Yacobellis;
2nd Place Winner Cathy and Rodney Tilley.
3rd Place Winner Margaret Howard (not pictured) The citizens of Fuquay-Varina experienced a real taste treat on Saturday, October 11th at the 6th annual Downtown Chili Cook-off where more than 450 people tasted chili and voted for their favorite cook. This year, ten teams vied for the coveted title of Fuquay-Varina’s Best Chili. The $500 First Place Winner was Don Savino with Chili-licious. According to Savino, this is his first time entering any type of cooking contest and he was very pleased and proud to walk away with the first place prize. Cathy Tilley won Second Place with her entry, Nana and Papa’s Secret Recipe, and Third Place went to Margaret Howard with Hat Trick Chili. Second Place and Third Place winners receive $300 and $150 respectively. The Best Presentation Honor went to Lynne Yacobellis with Chuck Wagon Chili. According to Susan Weis, Executive Director of the Fuquay-Varina Revitalization Association, “This year’s chili cook-off was our biggest one yet. In 2007, we had 300 folks taste chili. This year we saw that increase by fifty percent! Everyone seemed to have had lots of fun. People are already asking how to enter next year’s contest.” For the record, chili applications are available next August at www.fuquay-varinadowntown.com. The contest is held every year in conjunction with the Day in Downtown Festival which is typically held in October. The Downtown Chili Cook-off is organized by the Fuquay-Varina Revitalization Association.
Gold sponsors are BB&T and Senter, Stephenson & Johnson P.A.
Silver sponsors are Cumlander, Adcock & McCraw, L.L.P., McCuiston Law Offices, PLLC, and the N.C. Beef Council.
All proceeds from the Downtown Chili Cook-off will go towards revitalization efforts in downtown Fuquay-Varina. |
