Taste Buds Scream In 13th Annual Lakewood Chamber Of Commerce Chili Cook-off

Correction: This was Jonz Catering's first time competing in the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce cook-off.

The smell entered my nose the moment I stepped into the McGavick Conference Center at the campus Thursday afternoon. My stomach was empty, and I never turn down a good bowl of chili.

But this was something I'd never experienced. This was one of those moments I live for. This was a party I'd never been invited to, and it involved a cornucopia of chilis in my mouth.

Bring it.

The 13th annual Lakewood Chamber of Commerce chili cookoff was everything that I hoped for and then some. I questioned the idea of sampling so many different kinds back-to-back but I was surprised to discover that each spoonful sent me on a different chili roller-coaster ride.

The room was packed full of business owners and local community members. It was one of those events I try not to miss, because I tasted a diverse range of chilis and saw a local business delegation pushing for a good cause. All of the proceeds went toward the Business Students of the Year Scholarship Fund and will provide five or six scholarships to young adults enrolled in the , Clover Park Technical College or . The dessert auction was a huge success, and the event doubled in its proceeds compared to this past year.

I'm all for a fundraiser and by adding a chili bonanza, you've got a hit. There were 16 different kinds of chilis, each with a distinct taste, spice, consistency and overall bang. Some tasted amazing and others were just average.

Each chili participant was provided a small, numbered cup of chili and a delicious piece of cornbread from Famous Dave's Barbecue. The experience of tasting 16 kinds of chilis was a one-of-a-kind adventure. My taste buds were in a happy place, and my palette was able to differentiate the diverse range of chilis.

In the end, accounting firm Brink & Sadler's spicy chili, which featured multiple kinds of meat and zero beans, won the chili cook-off championship. Each person tasted the array of chilis and voted for their favorite.

I voted for Brink & Sadler as well, but I teetered on Jonz Catering, it's first time competing.

Colin Ehli and Mike Stevenson made the champion chili -- it was spicy but extremely tasty. They said the mix of four meats — elk, venison, beef and pork — didn't allow for any beans.

"I'd never won before so it was awesome," Ehli said. "We came up with a little different concoction yesterday that seemed to pass the taste test in our office."

One item that was paramount in trying Ehli's and Stevenson's chili was water. They had the spiciest chili. While I was not privy to the spicy recipe, it seemed to contain habanero hot sauce, because the flame stayed with me.

I had no complaints.

The Army and Air Force went head-to-head, and the Army won with a chicken-style chili. The Air Force's was a little runny but the sausage in it made up for the sauciness.

Linda Smith, president & CEO of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, said the event was fabulous.

"Especially with the participation of the Army and Air Force, more people are coming out every year," Smith said. "It's just growing."