MONROE - It is taking baby steps for now, but Saturday's inaugural chili cook-off at the American Legion Post 84 was what post members hope will become not only an annual event but one that rivals the October chili event on the Square.
"This time of the year, it gets you out of the house," said Rob Homerding, who won first place among the five entries. "In the fall, you don't need a reason."
Homerding, who is in the process of joining the Sons of the American Legion in tribute to his late father, Kenneth, a Vietnam veteran, used four different types of meat and four different types of beans in his winning concoction.
It was the larger butter bean in his chili that caught the attention of Sarah Reister, one of the taste testers and voters.
"I've never seen it in chili before, but I like it," she said. "The variety of beans is nice."
Beans were the key word among the participants, with the suggestion of using noodles instead drawing the ire of voter Erin Blum.
"It there aren't beans, it isn't chili," said Blum, the wife of post member Peter Blum.
Homerding agreed. "Add noodles, and now you've got goulash," he said.
Bonnie Moser had an entry, her secret being to use fresh hamburger and keep it low on the spice.
In contrast, the batch made by Lucian Lemak on behalf of the city's Veterans of Foreign Wars group, was heavy on the spice.
"But it's missing one thing and I'm not sure what it is," he said. "My wife usually makes it - it's her recipe - but this time I had to try and do it by memory."
For Brenda Neisman, her entry represented only the second time she'd made chili in her life. Needless to say, she had no secrets.
But Neisman, the event's organizer and auxiliary member in memory of her grandfather, Leo Neisman, who fought in World War II, said she hopes the cook-off will grow to be a large event.
Originally scheduled for Feb. 1, not even a warm bowl of chili could tempt people to leave the house as 10 inches of snow fell that Super Bowl Sunday. The event was postponed as a result and lost a bit of steam.
"Once we get the word out, I think it will catch on," said Neisman.
Speaking of getting the word out, will Homerding's accomplishment mean more time in the kitchen at home?
"Probably, now that my wife is going to hear about this," he said.
"This time of the year, it gets you out of the house," said Rob Homerding, who won first place among the five entries. "In the fall, you don't need a reason."
Homerding, who is in the process of joining the Sons of the American Legion in tribute to his late father, Kenneth, a Vietnam veteran, used four different types of meat and four different types of beans in his winning concoction.
It was the larger butter bean in his chili that caught the attention of Sarah Reister, one of the taste testers and voters.
"I've never seen it in chili before, but I like it," she said. "The variety of beans is nice."
Beans were the key word among the participants, with the suggestion of using noodles instead drawing the ire of voter Erin Blum.
"It there aren't beans, it isn't chili," said Blum, the wife of post member Peter Blum.
Homerding agreed. "Add noodles, and now you've got goulash," he said.
Bonnie Moser had an entry, her secret being to use fresh hamburger and keep it low on the spice.
In contrast, the batch made by Lucian Lemak on behalf of the city's Veterans of Foreign Wars group, was heavy on the spice.
"But it's missing one thing and I'm not sure what it is," he said. "My wife usually makes it - it's her recipe - but this time I had to try and do it by memory."
For Brenda Neisman, her entry represented only the second time she'd made chili in her life. Needless to say, she had no secrets.
But Neisman, the event's organizer and auxiliary member in memory of her grandfather, Leo Neisman, who fought in World War II, said she hopes the cook-off will grow to be a large event.
Originally scheduled for Feb. 1, not even a warm bowl of chili could tempt people to leave the house as 10 inches of snow fell that Super Bowl Sunday. The event was postponed as a result and lost a bit of steam.
"Once we get the word out, I think it will catch on," said Neisman.
Speaking of getting the word out, will Homerding's accomplishment mean more time in the kitchen at home?
"Probably, now that my wife is going to hear about this," he said.