2/16 - Salome Arizona Outback Chilli Cookoff !

Jenny browsed thru the web and found this interesting themed contest. It's a AZ Outback Chilli Cookoff where they have a chilli and salsa cooking competition. Web-site :
http://www.azoutback.com/chili.htm. They also have other activities for the family (line dance, art show, fund-raising, games).

Salome is 115miles to the west from here, took us ~2hrs. Passed thru Phoenix and used the I-10 before turning into Salome Hway. That was a really long and lonely stretch of 16miles. What do you expect at an Outback ! Had a difficult time keeping myself awake. Reached the venue @ ~10.30am. It was a large open space with some stalls (Indian Hillside Airpark). The Salsa competition food tasting was at 11.5am whike the chilli was at 2.15pm ! Can't believe we have to stay until 2+ !!  Had a short walk around the fundraising display inside the community hall. As it was an open space, the noon sun literally sun-burnt us all, except Janny of course :)

To be a taster, one has to buy a button for US$4, quite resonable.. For lunch, had some bites with the Polish Sausages (quite salty), didn't like it that much. The burger was better (US$5 also).. The set usually come with burger + chips + drinks..
By 1pm, we couldn't stand the heat and long wait for the Chilli cookoff, so I sent parents and kids to the car and turn on the air-cond. At least they get to play their iPads to kill time and parents took a quick nap. Around 2pm, I made my back to the Chilli Cookoff place. There were 5 stalls vying for the top prize of US$200 1st prize. Well, we do not know who won at the end since we went off before the results was announced. Hopefully the web-site update the result later.

I voted for the Fire Dept while Jenny voted for Mr Walter, the one with the least set-up (cooking under hot sun, no tent !). The Texan (beef cooked under pressure cooker) was quite good too. Mo's Chilli was similar to our Indian curry.

Jenny went back happy with all the secret recipe. Looking forward to her own Chilli Cookoff soon :)

Mo Chilli - a multiple winner in the past - the dad

Mo's son..also many times winner in the past

The burger from one of the stalls. Pretty good. US$5 for a burger + chips + coffee

Jenny trying the salsa

Jenny trying the chilli from Walter - she voted for him. See the large button on her shirt ?