New England Regional Chili Cook Off a Huge Success

On a beautiful, sunny day in Somers, a huge crowd gathered at Pleasant View Golf Center for the 2013 New England Regional Chili Cook Off.

According to organizer Michael Freedman, over 150 10x10 spaces were set up - and all were full. He said that he doesn’t have final figures on how much was raised to benefit the Somers Fire Department and Patriot Guard Riders CT, but that the attendance was huge and almost all 75 cooks who were passing out chili for the people’s choice contest ran out.

Keira McDaid won the Yute division and received a tent, a stove, spices and $250, plus money collected by the cooks.

“She made a tremendous pot of chili and will be a serious threat when she turns 18,” Freedman said.

Matt McSheehy won the people’s choice competition, Isaiah Frechette won for salsa, Scott Navaroli won for chili verde, and “an unbelievably happy” Ian Mcdaid won for red chili.

McDaid won a tent, stove, and $1,500. It will be his first time at the World's Championship Chili Cookoff.

“I personally have cooked with Ian and he’s got better each CCO, however, what impresses me the most is his commitment to the ICS,” Freedman said.

Freedman said not only were the Somers Fire Department and Patriot Guard Riders CT recipients of the money raised, but a few even showed up at his compound to help unload three trucks, a car, and a very overloaded Jeep at the very end of the day.

Freedman called it an “epic weekend” with all four current International Chili Society World Champions that won’t soon be forgotten, due to the friendships of all the cooks.

He would like to extend thanks to  Mike Kropp, Mary Alice McCormack Kropp, Nicholas Loddo, and Johanna Loddo for their tireless efforts in the judges area. He added that he can't say enough wonderful things about the chief judge and scorekeeper, Wes and Ginny Carlson, for a judging job that was so well done there were only a few ties.

“That could also be attributed to the ICS suggestion of one judge to every two judging cups,” he said. It was a beautiful day and everybody had lots of fun and good food for a cause.

“Kat and I thank you all from the bottom of our hearts and our non profits, Somers Fire Department and Patriot Guard Riders CT, are very grateful and humbled by your efforts,” he said.

RESULTS

2013 Jim Heywood Yute division: Keira McDaid

People's Choice
3rd Lincoln Culinary Instructors, CT
2nd Ian Mcdaid, CT
1st Matt McSheehy, MA

Salsa
3rd Dave Kelly, NH
2nd Roxanne Ballachino, CT
1st Representing the NERCC at the 2013 WCCC - Isaiah Frechette, CT

Chili Verde
3rd Steve Stark, MA
2nd Josh Freedman, CT
1st Representing the NERCC at the 2013 WCCC - Scott Navaroli, MA

Red Chili
5th David Daigle, NY
4th Rachelle Kim, CT
3rd  Matthew Levy, MD
2nd Bob Hall, IL
1st Representing the NERCC at the 2013 WCCC - Ian Mcdaid, CT