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Community Corner

Chili Cook Off Makes For Hot Competition

Ten local chefs compete for top prize in the St. John Brebeuf Holy Name Men's Club first annual Chili Cookoff.

The overcast skies and slightly chilled air of Friday’s first night of fall provided the perfect evening for a bowl of hot chili at first annual Chili Cookoff, sponsored by the Holy Name Men’s Club.  

Secret Ingredients

The chefs were working overtime to fill the sample cups with their creations for the event’s test tasters. Each chef hoped his or her chili would have that special zing needed to collect enough votes to win the first place prize.

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“I like it hot,” said Joeseph Kowalyk, who has competed in other chili events in southern Illinois. “One time in Mexico they set up a row of four of their hottest hot peppers. I got through the first three but couldn’t do the forth. My wife said it was the first time I’d ever stopped talking.”

Nelson School teacher’s assistant Mary Ward admits to a few secret ingredients of her own.

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“I use ham,” she confided, “and two or three other special things that I’m not going to admit to. Sometimes I use venison, but not tonight.” Ward also served her specialty on a layer of noodles, setting it off from the rest of the contestants.

“The secret is practice and experience,” said Carl Bronder, Holy Name Men’s Club director and long time member. “I’ve made chili for every parish Super Bowl party for the last fifteen years. I cook for a hundred to a hundred and twenty people on those nights.”

Judy Stephens, parishioner since 1973, gives her chili just a hint of red wine. “I also use Strauss’ Chili Con Carne Chili-Mix. I make the same recipe that my mother did forty years ago. The Consumer Vinegar and Spice Company, who makes the mix, will only sell it wholesale. I have to buy a hundred packages at a time and I end up giving them to my family and friends.”

And the Winner Is!

When final votes were counted, St. John Brebeuf’s pastor Fr. Michael Meany announced the top chili chefs.  Judy Stephan’s old family recipe took third place, Mary Ward’s ham-enhanced chili took second and the first place trophy was awarded to Niles Park District trustee/Niles Library Board member Dennis O’Donovan.

“I can’t believe I won,” said O’Donovan. “I hate to admit it, but I just threw this together this afternoon. I used Minnelli Brother’s hot sausage, ground turkey and three or four different spices.”

“I’d definitely do this again, and I’m going to come back next year as the reigning champ,” challenged O’Donovan, throwing down the gauntlet for next year's contest. “This is my first chili cook off and I won,” O’Donovan joked, “and I say bring on the competition.”

Group Funds Local Activities

The organization, which has been a fixture in the parish for over fifty years, plans to use the night’s proceeds to help fund numerous parish programs and events.

“The Men’s Club supports the Youth Ministry, GLADD (a ministry for those with developmental disabilities), Scouts, St. Vincent de Paul and other parish programs,” said John Jekot, Club Vice President, Membership Chairman and event coordinator. “With the chili cook off, we thought we’d try something new this year, and see how it goes. We hope to continue it every year.”

Club’s Secret Ingredient

In the end, it wasn’t really about who won first place or who came in last, nor was it about whose chili was the hottest or who used beef or turkey or sausage. It was about spending a few hours with good, kind, generous people.

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