But this helped keep me warm:
It was a nice afternoon attending the annual Fralics (pronounced frolics) hosted by the FRA branch in San Antonio. Yesterday’s main event was the chili cookoff, with eight teams competing for the honor of creating the best chili, at least in the eyes of the judges.
So, at 2:00, samples from each contestant were provided to the judges. Then attendees were invited to grab a taste from each pot while supplies last. I think I managed five of the eight.
And then the winners were announced.
The team from the VFW in Angeles got first. Sorry, I don’t remember which one was their entry; I did try it, though.
Here’s the thing, I’m no judge of what makes chili good. To me, it’s all a matter of taste. And what I like may not suit your preferences. Another thing I noticed was that eating from multiple bowls of different concoctions also impacts the flavor. I mentioned how Dave’s batch seemed bland at first but had a tangy aftertaste. If you took a bite of something else right away, you’d miss out on that effect. Later, one of the judges we know said they considered spiciness a key element–the spicier, the better. That’s a standard I totally disagree with, but whatever.
After the event, we made the drive back to Barretto, but it felt too early to go home on a Saturday night. So, we had my driver drop us off at Sloppy Joe’s.
That’s it for now. I will be doing the Sunday feeding at Hideaway and see where the evening takes me from there. Full report tomorrow!
Sultans of Swing is one of my favorite songs, but how is it relevant to today’s post? Well, I did use a line from the lyrics as a caption. Listen for it!
Still cooking…
In that photo, I like the huge, clear container filled with different kinds of dried beans.
My pal Dave’s creation
Dave’s chili looks meaty and promising.
One of the competitors. I don’t know why, but this reminded me of the last time I had diarrhea.
That chili is less red, maybe because the cooks are using less tomato, but it still looks good.
Dave’s creation. At first, I thought it was too bland, but a couple of minutes later, the green chili kicked in, and I could feel the burn in my mouth.
Interesting. It looks a lot more beany up close.
So I guess it was Dave who got third place? Congrats to him. All the entries looked pretty good. I often make chili with beans, but yeah, I’d contend that classic chili has no beans, no tomatoes, and no ground beef (it’s seared-and-pulled beef). That said, I eat beany chili far more often than the classic Texas chili. For hot dogs, I prefer my chili not to have any beans, mainly for logistical reasons: beans can fall all over the place.
Great pics of the event. Everyone looked happy. What more can you ask for?
Oh—did anyone serve their chili over carbs like rice, Frito Lays, or cornbread?
She looks like someone’s nervous granddaughter handed over to the responsibility of a person she doesn’t quite know whether to trust or not. Then suddenly comfortable when there are adult females around. Don’t want to be judgemental but please cease and desist.
Dan, I understand what you are saying, but looks can be deceiving. She invited herself along to the Fralics. In fact, I never initiate contact with her–she’s always the one who asks for a get-together. I honestly don’t have any romantic interest in her at all.
Kev, yes, Dave’s entry took third place honors. Nope, no one served the chili as a topping. I’m not sure what all the rules are, but I suspect that is not allowed. Dave had shredded cheese and green onions on the side that could be added on request, but he’s the only one I saw doing that.