24 Nov 2018
by scolgin
in Humor, Starlets, Yoga Students & Quinoa (stories)
Tags: beef, chilhuacle, chili cook off, humor, Oaxaca, Texas, Topanga, Woolsey fire
Every early November somethingth, our cozy little canyon community has a chili cook off and swap meet. I have participated in the cook off the past four or five years. It’s always the same group of us — Tom, who brings his homemade wine and last year forgot to put his truck in park and we all watched as it rolled off the cliff; my pal Dan, who won last year but drank too much during the morning and was passed out in his van when his name was announced; the young duo of Julian and Trevor, who object whenever I don’t win. Nobody cares much who wins or loses, it’s a lot of fun.
Winner!
I’ve never won. I came in second a couple years back. “Dude, you got robbed!” said Julian and Trevor, who won that year. More
11 Nov 2016
by scolgin
in Starlets, Yoga Students & Quinoa (stories)
Tags: Belcampo Meat Co., chili, chili cook off, Ernie Demontreux, pies, Soup Sorceress, tequila, Topanga Swap Meet
If it’s early fall in Topanga, it must be chili time.
My ingredient list
Every year, around the first weekend in November, the Topanga Swap Meet & Chili Cook Off rolls around. For a couple years, I was a judge. And then two autumns back, I was convinced by my friend Nonie who helps run the local community house to enter the contest, along with her husband Dan who was also entering. More
20 Nov 2015
by scolgin
in Recipes, Starlets, Yoga Students & Quinoa (stories)
Tags: beef, chili cook off, Del Maguey, Engine 69, humor, Sonora, Tecate, Topanga, Topanga Community Club, vaquero
I guess it wouldn’t be Topanga if our annual Chili Cook-off was a legitimate competition.
Goofy chilis often win. Last year, in the traditional chili category, the top prize went to a Moroccan lamb chili. This year, second place went to friend Kali’s chili — which featured habanero whipped cream and strawberries. (And was actually quite tasty, once I got enough past my initial shock to try some.)
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09 Nov 2014
by scolgin
in Pork, Starlets, Video
Tags: beer, chiles, chili cook off, food, Negro Modelo, Pork, Savraw, Southwestern cooking, Topanga
Out on my morning run, I saw a couple deer mating. And I knew it was going to be a good day.
For it was the Saturday of the Topanga Chili Cook-Off and Swap Meet, which my friend Nonie — who is on the board of the Community Club — had coerced me into entering.
Tom and his chili paddle
Last year, I was a judge alongside my pal Ernie. There were two chilis entered, neither of which were very good. “I think the best chili was the one they were selling at the concession,” I said to the gal running the event.
“But that came from a can!” she protested. More
29 Oct 2013
by scolgin
in Food, Humor, Starlets, Yoga Students & Quinoa (stories)
Tags: chili cook off, Grillers, Halloween, humor, soy, Topanga, vegetarian chili, vegetarian cooking
It was, once again, time for the annual Halloween carnival at my kids’ elementary school. And once I again, I was asked to make vegetarian chili.
The author as Señor Taco with friend Lucy at the Halloween carnival, 2012
As I mentioned in my last New Soy Technology post, my vegetarian chili was gaining a following. My pal Ernie had recently suggested I make it for the Topanga Chili Cook-Off — he was a judge last year. (Actually, now that I recall, I was supposed to be a judge too, but was out of town.)
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