Was there, like, a big football game on Sunday or something? With Christina Aguilera singing a made up version of the National Anthem? (The twilight's last reaming?) And a wretched half time performance by the Black Eyed Peas?
Because all I remember about Sunday is the fun, fun, fun chili cook off hosted by our friends Keary and Simon. (Thanks, guys!)
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| Where it all went down, before it all went down. |
Keary and Simon supplied the toppings and accompaniments...
And seven of us (including Keary and Simon) offered up our chili in hopes of winning an unannounced prize. (Which turned out to be either four or six premium fillets mignon; Simon threatened to keep two for himself.)
But really, we were there for the bragging rights. And the fun.
Everyone's chili was delicious, and any of them could easily have been crowned (filleted?) the winner. I tried them all and stilllll have a chili hangover.
The entries were sort of supposed to be anonymous, and were identified by numbered Post-It notes. (Fact: food tells a much better story when it's plated, or at least photographed with pot lids removed.)
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| Clockwise from front left: Kaz's Cincinnati Chili; my Texas Chili; Boyd's Mom's Jersey Chili With Secret Ingredients; Simon and Keary's Turkey Chili With Beans. |
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| From left: Michele's Vegetarian Chili; Larissa's Spicy Chicken Crock Pot Chili. |
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| Chris's Authentic New Jersey Style Texas Wiener Hot Dog Chili (HUH?) |
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| Served over hot dogs. (AHA.) |
But when Kaz started working the crowd with platters of his Cincinnati Chili served in toasted buttered buns with cheese and Tabasco...
It was on.
I started handing out garnished bowls of my Texas Chili.
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| Texas Chili with corn chips, cheese, red onion and parsley (because cilantro is gross). |
And I may have showed everyone the blisters on my right hand from trimming and cutting five pounds of certified organic grass fed beef chuck (with a Step 4 Animal Welfare Rating) into 1/2 inch cubes.
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| The price is NSFW. But if you buy beef, please make the most ethical choice you can access and afford. |
I may have also performed a song and dance about how my chili was two full days in the making, and flavored with Guinness Extra Stout, Ancho and Aleppo chilies, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, cinnamon, allspice and cloves.
Not that I was selling it or anything. (Or talking smack. Like I said, everyone's chili was fantastic.)
And here is where I make a sad little confession: my initial strategy was to make Katie's mom's vegetarian chili in hopes of kicking some meaty chili a--. But after hearing a week's worth of trash talk leading up to the cook off, I chickened out. Rather than make an unfamiliar recipe (albeit awesome), I decided to go with my tried and true Texas Chili.
Did it pay off? Ehhhh...
Larissa won with her Spicy Chicken Chili (which she had predicted would "knock your underwear off," something I can't confirm). My chili took second place and Michele's Vegetarian Chili came in third.
Larissa won with her Spicy Chicken Chili (which she had predicted would "knock your underwear off," something I can't confirm). My chili took second place and Michele's Vegetarian Chili came in third.
But I did take top honors in a previously unannounced category: Best Shoes Worn At the Super Bowl Chili Cook Off.
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| J. Crew Tilly Suede Platforms. (Sadly, they're sold out.) |
I'll take it.
And I'll be making Katie's mom's vegetarian chili next time. (There will be a next time, right, guys?)
