Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 6, 1990 TAG: 9005060106
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TRACY VAN MOORLEHEM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"In the past, all of the cooks kept running out," he said. He brewed his chili in a special roaster that he made out of a 50-gallon drum. "I want to make sure that everyone gets some of mine."
But by 1 p.m. his chili was gone.
Laban Johnson, Roanoke's special events coordinator, estimated that this year's Virginia State Championship Chili Cookoff drew the largest crowd in its 11-year history.
Dammann said he named his product "Gastro Fiasco" because it always plays havoc with his stomach. The recipe includes molasses, beer, a secret formula and "any road kill we find on the way in."
Other competitors included Debbie Leftwich, the self-proclaimed Neon Momma, and her "Glow in the Dark" chili. Her special ingredient is Corona Beer. "It tenderizes the meat," she said.
Lex Gibson's Red Eye Boys rounded up other competitors and took pictures of them in "jail" at his booth. Gibson said the secret of good chili is six pounds of venison, six pounds of beef, two pounds of sausage - and Indian Root dug from the mountains to "warm your palate and tongue."
The Household of Faith Church sponsored "Fire From On High" chili.
The competitors started cooking early in the morning to prepare for the 1:30 judging. But most spent about equal time cooking and socializing with the crowd.
"We try to make it like a big party," Gibson said. "Personally, I think I make the best chili in the world, but I really don't care about winning this thing. I'm just down here to have a good time."
At noon Robert Hager of Botetourt County won his 6th straight jalepeno pepper eating contest by finishing 25 peppers in five minutes. Last year he consumed 38, his personal record. "They were hotter this year," he said.
Nine people, including two women, competed in the contest.
Among the chili judges were a fireman, a dentist and a Virginia Tech food service specialist. They evaluated taste, aroma and consistency, and washed the chili down with beer.
Tom Pettigrew of Roanoke and his crew, "We B Chili," won the showmanship award for the second consecutive year.
The Mr. Hot Sauce and Miss Chili Pepper crowns went to Lex Gibson of the Red Eye Boys and Francis Moore of the Hillbilly Chili Team. Gibson and his crew also for the best booth.
The people's choice award, based on ballots cast by the crowd, went to Ted Detillo and the Harley Davidson gang, a group of motorcycle owners from Roanoke.
The big prize, a trip to Los Angeles to the world chili cookoff in October as Virginia's representative, caused some good-natured trouble for Jim and Gloria Pleasants, uprooted Texans who live in Norfolk. Jim Pleasants won second place with his "J.R.'s Jalepeno Chili" and she won first with "Hill Country Longhorn" chili.
"It's good Texas chili," Jim Pleasants said. "It's where chili was invented."
by CNB