Steak, Bacon, Black Bean Chili Wins First Place in Second Annual Chilympics

Twelve chili-cooking competitors whipped up their best chili for a host of judges and a hearty community turnout for the second annual Chilympics in Downers Grove.

Scott Carbon and his steak, bacon and black bean chili came away with the first place title, $500 and a chance to compete in the world championship in Las Vegas.

Don Peters, in booth two, won second place and Gloria Stevens, in booth 13, was awarded third place.

Eileen Lannon won the People’s Choice Award.

Eileen Lannon’s team in booth 1 won the People’s Choice award.

Debra Hunt — who won first place last year — was awarded Best Booth for her chili-printed tablecloths, colorful decorations and photos on display.

Ian Everett, supervisor of marketing and creative development for the Downers Grove Park District, said the competition attracted a few experienced competitors and a couple of rookies. The kids’ area was a new and popular feature this year, and the demonstration of how to make guacamole and pico de gallo by College of DuPage chef Christopher Thielman was a hit.

The 12 competing chilies underwent a blind judging process, so judges didn’t know which chili belonged to which chef.

Hunt was happy to be back for her second year in the Downers’ competition. She’s been cooking chili for sport for six years, inventing pizza chili, tamale chili and this year’s gumbo-like chili, featuring New Orleans sausage and a corn chip.


The line for Hunt’s chili creation was consistently long, and when other competitors ran dry, Hunt continued dishing it out.

Mayor Martin Tully participated as a judge, and he said he utilized the same categorization process he implements in wine tasting: “yum” and “yuck.”

“Though, there was no yuck here today,” Tully said.

The mayor described his ideal chili as having a slow-building heat, but the official judging rules take prescience over personal preferences.

When the options were narrowed, Tully said it came down to flavor versus texture, and the flavor of Carbon’s chili won out.

Bob Gelwicks, vice president on the board of parks commissioners, said judging was difficult, especially because he’s a chili cook himself. Judging 12 chilies within the parameters, one spoon at a time, proved a challenge.

“It was not easy,” Gelwicks said. “Some were very different, though there were a lot of similarities. It comes down to what you’re comfortable with.”

Chilympics was hosted by the Downers Grove Park District, and it was a sanctioned International Chili Society homestyle chili event.

The 12 chili competitors were:
Kent Evans
Freddy Wenzel
Gloria Stevens
Scott Carbon
Don Renner
David Navarro Jr
Anthony Henley
Eileen Lannon
Doug Mitch
Donald Peters
Robert Kasinecz
Debra Hunt

Scott Carbon and his steak, bacon and black bean chili came away with the first place title.