Rotary Club of San Marino hosted its (sometimes) annual Chili Cook-Off competition on Thursday, Feb. 11 at San Marino Community Church.
Ten competitors submitted entries with the express goal of claiming the title of the ‘Best Chili in San Marino’ and winning prize money to donate to the charity of their choice.
First up was the popular vote. All of those attending the Chili Cook-Off were allowed to vote for their favorite chili after sampling small cups identified only by numbers. A hat was passed around the room to collect the prize money for this category, garnering $255. First place received 50 percent; second place, 30 percent; and third place, 20 percent.
The Titan Athletic Boosters, represented by President Birgit Castleman, took home the first prize in the popular vote. It donated its winnings to the Spiritual Care Guild for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
“I’m so excited,” Castleman said. “I’m thrilled to be giving to my charity. I was just having fun and had no idea that I was going to win. It was also great to represent the Titan Athletic Boosters.”
Second place went to the San Marino Fire Department, represented by Capt. Dominic Petta, who was then represented by Deputy Chief Mark Phillips after Petta had to go out on an emergency call with police and other firefighters. Its selected charity was Boy Scout Troop 358.
San Marino Chamber of Commerce, represented by Don Boline, received third place in the popular vote. Its winnings went to Five Acres.
Officer Dan Gosserand, representing the San Marino Police Department, took home honors for having the Hottest Chili. His chili won the San Marino Police Department the popular vote in last year’s San Marino Rotary Chili Cook-off. Gosserand said people told him the chili could have been a little bit spicier last year, so this year he made it spicier.
Up next was the judge’s vote. The judges for the Chili Cook-off this year were San Marino restaurant owners Gina-Marie Stea of the San Marino Grill, Norma Olivas of Fresh Gourmet, Dora Liang of Sweet & Savory and Michael Scotti-Belli of Tony’s Pizza. An anonymous Rotarian donated the $500 prize for this category.
San Marino Chamber of Commerce placed first in the judge’s competition, with more winnings going to Five Acres.
“I thought it was the most important vote, being from the trained palates of judges,” Boline said. “We ended up on top and getting money for our charity, Five Acres, of which I’m on the board.”
He said he was happy to represent the chamber.
Bob Houston, who not only organized but also personally entered the event, received second place, with his prize money going to Boy Scout Troop 358.
San Marino Fire Department came in third for the judge’s vote, with additional funds going to Boy Scout Troop 358.
After attendees had sampled the chili, but before winners were announced, competition entrants were invited to tell the Rotary audience a little about their cooking processes, recipes and charities.
Phillips spoke for San Marino Fire Department.
“It was a team effort for our shifts and chiefs who put together the chili,” he said. “Capt. Dominic Petta was the leader in that.”
Gosserand spoke next, noting, “The Police Department actually sponsored the chili that I made.”
San Marino Rotary Past President Pete Corzo entered the chili competition and was cooking for the Vocational Services Committee.
“My wife made it,” Corzo said, explaining that he had no idea how. “She let me open the cans and then I got thrown out.”
Russ Osmonson, immediate past president of San Marino Rotary, was a contestant competing for Southwestern Academy’s Interact Club.
He said the only thing he was going to say about his secret recipe was that there was chipotle and beer in it.
Another Rotarian, Rob Feidler, whose charity was Ability First, was equally as secretive about his chili recipe.
“My chili, I can just say, it has Italian sausage in it,” he said.
Castleman said she was busy making her chili until 11:30 p.m. on the night before the competition.
“I started with the basic recipe and then I got really competitive,” she said, noting her recipe has beer and ham in it.
Boline revealed his secret ingredient to be Boudin, a Cajun sausage from Louisiana.
“I got 25 pounds in last week from Port Barre, Louisiana,” he said.
Rotarian Roberta Gundersen said she couldn’t really tell which chili was hers in the blind taste test. She chose Brain and Behavior Research Foundation as her charity.
Similarly, San Marino Rotary President-Elect Gilda Moshir, whose charity was also the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, entered her husband’s chili but could not tell which was his in the blind taste test.
Houston noted that he used Chasen’s Famous Chili recipe for his entry.
“It was the favorite of stars,” he said. “Elizabeth Taylor had it shipped to her when she was filming ‘Cleopatra.’”
All of the Chili Cook-Off participants received a gift basket and a trophy.
San Marino Fire Department has been long-time winners of the Rotary Chili Cook-off and its chili was the first pot empty after Rotarians were able to choose what chili to eat for a meal.
“As always we had a fun time participating in the annual Chili Cook-Off,” Petta said. “We will have to craft a better recipe for next year to take home the title again.”
