Staff
In a repeat performance of 2009, Holmlund Financial won The Great Canadian “Spook-tacular” Chili Cook-Off and Cake Roulette yesterday at the local Legion.
Decked out in devil horns, the team of Susan Bodnarchuk and Bruce Holmlund wowed the judges with their concoction, “Holmlund’s Hell of a Good Chili,” to earn the “Best Chili Award.”
Holmlund’s has been a long-time participant, serving up chili at nearly every event since its inception.
Judges Ryan Parisien (Naicatchewenin Development Corp. Food Services), Lillian Gerley (UPS Store) and Anthony Leek ruled Causeway Insurance’s “Causeway Cauldron Classic” as their second-place choice, followed closely by Seven Generation Education Institute’s “A.J.’s Style Chili” and “Chicago Chili,” which tied for third.
Meanwhile, the CIBC team and its “G(h)astly Gool’s Chili of CIBC” was named the People’s Choice winner by members of the public who taste-tested all of the 12 varieties and then voted for their favourites.
This is the second year in a row CIBC earned the crowd’s favour, as they also won People’s Choice last year.
TD Canada Trust came in second with “Rob Your Taste Buds Chili,” with Holmlund Financial and Gillons’ Insurance (“Gillons’ Ghoulish Grub”) tying for third in People’s Choice votes.
This year’s other competitors, and their chili, included:
•Seven Generations Education Institute—“Canadian Chili,” “Sweet BBQ Chili,” and “Big T’s Chili.”
•Safeway Gas Bar—“High Octane Turkey Chili”; and
•B93•FM—“Zombi Mash”
All of the teams dressed up in accordance with the Hallowe’en theme.
This year’s cook-off, which drew a steady stream of chili fans at lunchtime, was sponsored by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and Canada Safeway.
Yesterday’s cook-off also featured a cake roulette, where people could spin and win donated baked goods, as well as a drive for local food banks, where people were encouraged to bring along non-perishable items.
About one table of goods was donated by charitable members of the public.
