Judges (LtoR): Bobbi Walker, David Walker, Charlotte Fitzgerald, Deedra McCollum, Pam Ray, Dain Wheborth, Lyn Luster

Saturday, October 25, 2014 meant the HAPPENING of the 6th Annual Chili & Gumbo Cookoff as staged at Hurricane Junction. And what a happening that was!

Arriving early in the afternoon one was accosted by a totally unusual wave of many tantalizing aromas; and if that person was semi-cognizant of what those aromas could mean, well, no one is leaving quickly.

Walking further down the outside was the first contestant’s area, “Fly By The Seat Of My Pants” as manned by Ginnie and Gerry Lichac and the tantalizing smell from their chili pot made me look for a bowl, quickly. Ginnie is the President of the Friends of the Library and Gerry, of course, is her avid supporter.

Walking down a line of sites with cooking facilities of all kinds, the assault to my smelling facilities became strong and stronger. While walking and checking and conversing and sampling, I found a chili made with deer meat and lots of beer too. And one gumbo proudly displayed an egg! While another had lots of okra to add flavoring and thickness.

But as the approaching late afternoon soon became a time for judging with a very distinguished panel of specially selected judges, all of whom came prepared to display their fearless talents to render an unshakable verdict on the many bowls of chili and gumbo. This undaunted group may have started this blind tasting with some trepidation, but their votes were lasting and unshakable. Serving on this sterling group of impeccable justices were Bobbi Walker, David Walker, Charlotte Fitzgerald, Deedra McCollum, Pam Ray, Dain Wheborth and Lynn Luster. Our thank yous to all, and we do hope that the results of the necessary seasoning did not require several bowls of ice cream to cool things down.

As Hoop prepared to name the winners, he gave tribute to a special resident who, along with her group, was missing this year. Marie Richter had been the chief at the cooking pot for her group’s entry in the Chili division for sometime. She has for several years, smilingly carried off the trophy for the Showmanship Award as well as placing in the Chili cookoff. Sadly, due to illness, Marie has left our area and is now a resident near Liberty. We will always miss her smiling face, and what a master she was with the many disguises that her troupe wore to gather trophies in the Showmanship Award.

This year the Award goes to the “Bad Boo Chili” composed of Diane and Jim Cooley and Barbara and Jimmy Crouch. Although they had pretty good sized shoes to fill this year, they certainly succeeded. Wonder what group will be up for it next year?

A special award in the Margarita Competition went to Paul McGee and how did I miss getting a taste? Hope Hoop got his fill!

The top three gumbo winners were “Pirates of the Guadalupe” in First place with Dee & Kyle Woodruff from Nursery with a prize winning dish of shrimp, crab and fish gumbo doing the honors with her special ingredient of file; second prize was won by the “Coastal Cookers” with Peyton Martin in control; and Third Prize going to the “Rum Smugglers” with Brandi Briskie as the chef.

First Place Chili Kim Jensen

Dee Woodruff, Pirates of Guadalupe, 1st Place Gumbo with Peyton Martin, Coastal Cookers, 2nd place Gumbo

Chili winners were quite difficult to choose, but the First Prize was awarded to the “Coastal Bend Charters” and Kim Jensen doing the honors for the group that had captured 3rd prize last year. Second prize was cornered by the “Rum Smugglers” with Cooper Knight as the major stirrer; and the Third Prize went to the “Coastal Cookers” with Peyton Martin doing the honors . As we can be assured that all of these winners will return in 2015 to uphold their titles, we can be certain that there will be plenty of new challengers; particularly some who didn’t win this time.

And following the Awards to so many deserving and hardworking Chefs, the silent auction of many items commenced. Competitive bidding evolved on the various pictures and statues and other interesting items and many concerned bidders watched one person after another return to the same item to increase their bid. I noticed with a great deal of amusement my husband bidding against another man seated at the bar as each got up to return to that special statue and change their bid.

But the biggest kudo of this event goes to Hoop, the proprietor of Hurricane Junction. Hoop is known throughout our community for his generous donations for various activities; he has made the Building Fund for our Library the beneficiary of the Cookoff for the past five years as well as this year. It’s the members of our community, like Hoop, who make such a difference in the funding of our various organizations, whether the support goes to the Service Club’s Semi-Annual Garage Sale; to our Volunteer Fire Department; our Library; Scholarships; help for our local School’s activities and other projects here in Port O’Connor. But it’s also those that attend these activities; take part in them; or support them in so many ways. A HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!

And, if you missed the 6th Annual Chili/Gumbo Cookoff this October as held at Hurricane Junction, don’t mope and be unhappy. Hoop hasn’t quit yet, so get busy and get your team to start practicing those award-winning recipes, and we will look forward to seeing you in October of 2015! And if you really want to try out your expertise in a special gumbo recipe, as opposed by THE CHAMPION, there will be another GUMBO COOKOFF in January. And guess who is entering this time? The Big Man Himself! But will a bottle of Tums be necessary?

Cooper Knight, Run Runners, 2nd place Chili

Brandi Briskie, Rum Smugglers, 3rd place Gumbo

Paul McGee, winner of Margarita Award

Ginnie Lichac, President of Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, stirring her chili.

Note from Sue Kubecka: I had a great deal of fun talking and photographing the many chefs at the Chili/Gumbo Cookoff, howere, I goofed, on naming some persons and winners in the photos. My apologies. I certainly hope I do not make that mistake again. But  it was a good day and I hope to see you all again next year!