'Chili Nights' Well Attended, Organizers SayOrganizers of November's First Friday event "Chili Nights" thanked the community today for coming out to support the event.
A large crowd turned out to sample on 34 different chilis created by local restaurateurs and individuals.
People's Choice awards were given based on attendees who dropped money in receptacles at each chili cookers area.
People's Choice winner was 8WW restaurant, with Bill DeGaetano receiving honorable mention.
The chilis also were rated by a panel of three judges - Bob and Sharon Sanders and Gary Gerard.
The top three chilis from restaurants and individuals were chosen.
In the restaurant division, Noa Noa was the winner with a Texas tri-tipped chili. The three types of beef tips used were smoked for 14 hours. It was a traditional chili with no beans and nine different chili powders. It had a smoky flavor.
Second place went to 8WW. That chili contained beef tips and bacon, black beans and red beans with a tasty sweet/spicy seasoning.
Viand Chef Services took third with a chile using cilantro, roasted red pepper, black beans and sausage.
In the individual categories, Matt Pearson came in first with a three-meat chili containing beef, pork and chorizo sausage and a nice blend of spices.
Second place went to Joe Bryan's four-bean chili with ground beef and bacon, spiced with cumin, chipotle and cinnamon.
Brian Burris came in third with a hearty homestyle chili featuring bell and papadu peppers, beef tips, cheese and brown sugar.
Keith Reinholt, event organizer, said, "The downtown merchants and and the Warsaw Community Development Corporation would like to than all the chili makers for coming downtown. We'd also like the thank the community form coming out and daring th eweather to make another great First Friday event."
