Marsha Wins Again!!!

1st place people's choice award at the Pheonix Hill Chili Cookoff, Marsha Lynch with Juleps Catering takes the trophy! This is Marsha's third 1st place trophy in the past four yrs.

And I hear that Steve and Becky P. and Linda and Mark B. Placed in the restaurant category for Cooking in the Cottage? I haven't fact checked anything, but wanted to get the word out so congratulations can ensue for our friends!

*** There were 60 contestants - that doesn't sound like anything to sneeze at.

VERY COOL! Congrats to all the winners!

whoops, we didn't win people's choice...that always goes to "Fire in the Hole" Chili, because they stuff the ballot box. We won first place restaurant division, second year in a row, and third time in four years!

Congrats to Stevie P and Mark from Cooking at the Cottage on their fourth place win, too!

I thought I might be wrong about the category, surry! I almost called ya back to clarify before posting. But you are the Def Chef, for shiz. Your chili is off the charts, lady. The BF didn't even need me to hold him accountable to honor among friends - you were already his first choice.

***edit: Fire in the hole stewed a weak chili. I was totally aggravated with the length of their line once I tasted their show piece.

[Robin Garr]

Woohoo! Congrats!!

A hail and hearty congrats to Marsha for the first place finish. Awesome job Marsha.

Congratulations to both of you for excellent showings! They need to give Marsha a permanent trophy for first place and Steve and Mark coming in 4th for their first outing is excellent.

Congrats to you both.

Way to go!
Thanks for the beverages!

The important question is: where can I get some of this chili?

Congratulations Marsha and it was nice seeing you!

Way to go Marsha. Your chili certainly deserved 1st place, I know I liked it a lot.

whoops, we didn't win people's choice...that always goes to "Fire in the Hole" Chili, because they stuff the ballot box.

Marsha, what is up with that ?
I heard this from two other contestants yesterday also, actually there was word of them being affiliated with the owner is someone kinda way ?....probaly small talk ....but it seems that it is kind of obvious ?

whoops, we didn't win people's choice...that always goes to "Fire in the Hole" Chili, because they stuff the ballot box.

Marsha, what is up with that ?
I heard this from two other contestants yesterday also, actually there was word of them being affiliated with the owner is someone kinda way ?....probaly small talk ....but it seems that it is kind of obvious ?

Alan,

Nahhhhhh....it's a pretty well known fact that these people stuff the ballet box. I don't have my thumb on the pulse of this event and (aside from helping Marsha serve a couple of years ago) this was my first experience with the cook off but even I picked up on this little (shall we say) nuance. The sad thing is when compared to some of the other products I tasted yesterday, their chili really is quite pedestrian.

I don't know anything about a connection with the owner. And I guess I should have said "every year people SAY they stuff the ballot box". It's just kind of like a joke amongst the competitors. Like Steve said, their chili doesn't seem to be anything to write home about. People seem to love our chili and dozens promise to vote, so I don't know what goes on when they count the ballots.

However, it's just a small $100 cash prize, we're much happier with the big win in the Restaurant Division, but it would be nice to know who the "People's Choice" really is, and whether we are up near the top of those ratings. Totally happy with "Judges' Choice," however.