Chili chefs lined up for cook-off

With the ninth-annual Fort Frances Times’ Great Chili Cook-off tentatively scheduled for Friday, Sept. 17, organizers have lined up the 12 teams they were looking for.
This year’s chefs for the fundraiser include:
•Susan Bodnarchuk (Holmlund Financial);
•Barb Stainke—“Jack Pot Chili” (Bonnie Blue);
•Darryl Allan (Town of Fort Frances);
•Kai & Renta Winkler—“It’s so delicious it doesn’t even need a fancy name Chili” (Pharmasave);
•Dee Ducharme—“High Speed Chili” (NWO.net)
•Karen Slusarchuk (Rainycrest Home for the Aged);
•Josie Patrick—“No Beans About It Chili” (Herbal Magic);
•Lori Gregory (Green’s Countrywide);
•Peggy Loyie (United Native Friendship Centre)
•Dr. Mike Gerstner and Sherry Armstrong (Fort Frances Dental Centre);
•Angie Galusha—“Hair Splitter Chili” (A Little Off the Top); and
•Kyla Whitecrow, Eleanor Jourdain, and Tara Kelly.
Teams listed with only one chef, or no name for their chili, haven’t yet confirmed these details.
This year’s organizer, Gabe Glueheisen, also noted she has the three judges lined up. They will be Barry Blake from B93-FM, Teresa Hazel, director of the Riverside Foundation for Health Care and communications officer for Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc., and new Canadian Tire owner Angus McDonald.
Teams will vie for both the coveted “Chili Bowl” (awarded to the best chili as decided by the judges) and the People’s Choice award.
Dr. Mike Gerstner and Sherry Armstrong of the Fort Frances Dental Centre took the top prize last year for their chili called “Novocaine Special III—the numb-iest ever.”
Last year’s People’s Choice award went to Ramiro Matias and Linda Trevisanutto, of Rainycrest Home for the Aged, for their “Chili of the Golden Oldies.”
Always a popular fall event, more than 300 people turned out last year under the tent in the Times’ parking lot to taste the various chilis, as well as help raise $1,200 that was divided between the local Salvation Army and United Native Friendship Centre food banks.
All proceeds will go to local food banks again this year.
This year also will see the return of the popular “cake roulette,” where people can take their chances on winning a delicious baked treat.
Anyone wishing to volunteer to donate a cake can call Tanya Cumming at 274-5373.