Feeling a Little Chili

I got a decidedly chilli reception when I attended a fundraiser for the Santa Barbara Navy League at the Carriage and Western Art Museum.

But that was only to be expected given I was asked to be a judge along with Bill Pintard, manager of the Santa Barbara Foresters baseball team, and insurance executive Peter Georgi for the organization’s fourth annual chili cook-off.

More than 200 guests turned out for the show, emceed by Drew Wakefield, raising around $75,000 for general funds.

Twelves teams, including the UCSB ROTC, the SB Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol, the U.S. Marine Corps, Vandenberg Air Force Base, and the crew from the submarine USS California in New Hampshire, participated in the event, with their chili being judged on presentation, smell, flavor, texture, and overall impression, with each category getting a maximum five points.

The U.S. Coastguard’s Black Tip from Oxnard carried off the winner’s trophy, with NOAA and the St. Nicholas Island naval base runners up.

Santa Maria bank executive Jim Glines conducted the auction at Gatling gun speed, raising $32,100 selling off a Newport Beach vacation, a private charter on the Condor Express, and a VIP stay in San Diego with a private tour of the World War Two aircraft carrier USS Midway.

It was a nice change from judging hats!