Saturday morning dawned warm and sunny, just the perfect day for the Chili/Gumbo Cookoff on Saturday, October 22nd to be staged at Hoop’s new place, Hooper’s Bar & Grille on West Maple Street. As I arrived semi-early to watch and speak with the contestants as they were starting their preparations, I became very much intrigued with the array of seasonings that many had.

The mixture of balanced seasoning is what makes a carefully prepared and cooked dish become not just ok, but startling correct, and as many of the contestants were returning to take their place among winners, one knew that these chefs had tested and tested their entry many times. Many of the seasonings were somewhat unusual; preparing a good chili is not just a matter of dumping chili powder and cayenne pepper in the pot, but a learned combination of often unusual spices.

Speaking with Nancy Johnston of San Antonio, I learned that her chili lent its unusual and slightly hot taste due to the “hatch” peppers she had ordered from New Mexico. This chili was not a smooth mixture of meats, but good sized pieces immersed in a tomatoey mixture. And Randy and Mary Czaplewski of Spring had a shelf with many unusual spices they used in their chili. And speaking with Diane Cooley I learned that she uses a combination of Mediterranean black salt, Texas white pepper plus beer and tomato soup in addition to the traditional spices, while tasting constantly.

A gumbo dish that had an incredible aroma was sitting at the spot of the Chuckwagon Chix, and speaking with one of them, Sue Glover, I learned that the gumbo had a special ingredient of smoked chicken accompanying the sausage and shrimp. As Chef Sue thought that a little extra smokey flavor was due, she added the skins of the chicken temporarily and stirred well. Additionally, Sue roasts chili peppers of various kinds and then carefully adds them to this special gumbo.

Although there were only ten teams competing at this time, they all made their presence very well known as the mouthwatering aromas of chili and gumbo being prepared, lingered up and down Maple Street. Additionally, several of these chefs were from other areas such as Spring, Lockhart, San Antonio and the Austin complex. But our local chefs were definitely prominent and “on point’ with their concoctions.

However seven people had the difficult job of picking the winners in each division and Paul McGee, Teresa Vogel, Laurie Junek, Susan Huglin, Hank Lippold, Lori Hemphill and Wesley Uagatgen were up to this challenge. Although many spoons were used to taste and often re-taste, and water along with crackers were used to soothe their heated taste buds, this group of unusual volunteers finally achieved winners who were then announced by Hoop.

Jessie Morgan won the first place for margaritas, and if competing with that wonderful drink allows tasters a taste, I’m in line. The Showmanship Award went to the team of Barbara Sue Crouch and Diane Cooley as accompanied by their husbands in their Duck Blind Chili. This group is following in the big shoes left by Marie Richter and her cohorts with their successive wins for the Showmanship Trophy.

Coming in as 3rd place in Chili was Ron Faulstich of Lockhart; and following this event, he and his partner were then on their way to Terlingua to compete in the World’s Chili Contest. Second place was awarded to Barbara and Diane of Port O’Connor and first place was captured by Terry Wright of Lockhart.

And then came the gumbo winners starting with Mike Gould of the Tornadeaux team placing third; the Chuckwagon Chix were in second place with Sue Glover, Nicole Collins and Jeanne Newberry; and first went to the Coastal Oaks Cowboys of Dee and Kyle Woodruff.

Despite the fact that all the teams didn’t win this year, I’m sure we will see these contestants and many more next year about the same time, same place for the 9th Chili/Gumbo Cookoff.

See you then!

And following the announcement of winners, the final tally of the items for sale in the silent auction as staged by Friends of the Library took place. There were so many unusual and beautiful items arrayed on the tables that a shopper had a difficult time deciding where to spend his/her money. But the Friends of the Library benefitted once again this year with the proceeds going for our proposed new Library as Hoop once again has donated all monies earned during that Saturday for the new Library. Therefore, all money remains here in Port O’Connor for the betterment once again of our community.