Superbowl of Chili: Now it Can Be Told

Morning weigh-in: 179#, 14% body fat

Listening to WLVR. Apparently the Lehigh kids are still on vacation, so their station still rocks.

The Chili Contest: yes it rocked too. We (me, Eric, Doug & Lori, Brian, and Joe & Cos) started with a hike at Merrill Creek, where we later ran into Lee Sindet, and Karen Fox & her boyfriend Brian -- we were supposed to meet them but had parked in different lots, oh well. It was a good start to the day though, and hiking was the right choice, the trails were ruined for XC and except in one or two places the snowshoes were unnecessary. About an hour and a half of walking around and playing in the snow, and we went back to the cars, changed, and headed for Easton.

We got downtown about 11:30, and there already a lot of people there on line, but we lined up inside, where we were warm and could order beers. (Not long after we got there the line went out the door -- this is a half hour after the pub opened, and at least an hour and a half before the start of the contest -- so we lucked out.) Time flew as we hung out and people-watched, and it didn't seem too long before we were inside sampling the chili.

(A quick note: the contest is among local pubs and restaurants, judged by a panel of "experts" like local reporters & firemen or such like, and the grand prize is a top-of the-line stereo system. There is also a "People's Choice" award that people like us get to vote on. The whole thing is for charity and $5 gets you in. Beer is full price, but the chili & water are free...)

This year there were a lot more contestants than last year. Personally, I think Pearly Bakers really dropped the ball or something last year: no advance work, no advertising etc, and it showed... luckily, plenty of people showed up, and despite last year's disappointment they showed up again this year... There were probably thirty contestants, maybe a few more, and they were all good, like there was nothing there (among those I could eat: some had nuts or mushrooms) that wasn't excellent, it really was hard to pick a favorite but I liked entries from Porters and the Savory Grille best. This is probably the biggest deal in Easton, with the possible exception of Heritage Day. I saw Kelly-Jo and crew from Which Brew, and the Green Cafe crowd pushing their wares, and a ton of people out there consuming...

We ate our samples, then voted and left (I forgot to mention we hooked up with Dick Saul there), to escape the crowds and to let others get a chance. We went next door to Mothers, then up the street to Porters, then the day started catching up to all of us, so we headed home. I was asleep before the kickoff...