BACK IN THE STEW POT; HEAVY STAKES AT TODAY'S CHILI COOKOFF.Byline: David Greenberg The creator of this article, or someone who has substantially contributed to it, may have a conflict of interest regarding its subject matter. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Daily News Staff Writer Bob Delaney This article is about politician. For the basketball referee, see Bob Delaney (basketball referee). Bob Delaney is a politician in Ontario, Canada. and his 25-person cooking team know they will have no problem attracting a disproportionately high number of the 10,000 people expected at the 24th annual Conejo Valley The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwest Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States. It was discovered in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and eventually became part of the Rancho El Conejo land grant by Days Chili Cookoff A “chili cookoff'” is a social event, similar to a barbecue, in which competitors prepare their own particular recipe for chili con carne and submit it for taste testing. . But getting the judges' attention has become a hot issue. ``You spend the amount of time, and then you don't even get a mention in the judges' chili (language) CHILI - D.L. Abt. A language for systems programming, based on ALGOL 60 with extensions for structures and type declarations. ["CHILI, An Algorithmic Language for Systems Programming", CHI-1014, Chi Corp, Sep 1975] competition - it's frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: ,'' said Delaney, 36. ``I'd be pleased if we got into the top 10. I'd like to get recognized. It would make me proud. To win just seems unimaginable.'' His team is known for its elaborate ``Graveyard Chili'' exhibit, where stew containing 15 to 20 different spices is served from kettles in a homemade coffin. Festivalgoers waiting in line are bemused by the styrofoam tombstones tombstones a cellular phenomenon in pemphigus vulgaris; rows of basal cells of the epidermis remain attached to the basal membrane, reminiscent of rows of tombstones. bearing the names of ``Wyatt Burp'' and ``Chili the Kid.'' The setup and costumed cooks consistently take home top honors for best booth, showmanship and ``people's choice chili,'' given to the team that sells the most cups of chili. ``We get people coming back every year to see what we're doing,'' Delaney said. ``People come for the show and stay for the chili.'' He said his team will cook 50 gallons of stew, which will serve 500 to 1,000 people. But the samples from 85 entrants from as far away as New Jersey are labeled only by numbers, so the 60 judges have no idea whose chili they are tasting. They only know that, unlike the chili served to the public, the judges' chili contains a higher-grade meat and no beans. ``When you judge chili, you want to taste chili,'' said Michael O'Beirne, judging chairman and past president of the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. , which sponsors the event. ``Beans can change the flavor. You want to taste how the spices and vegetables have permeated the meat. You're tasting pure chili.'' The cookoff at Conejo Creek Park, is expected to raise $25,000 to $30,000 for charities and scholarships sponsored by the Rotary Club. It also serves as a regional competition recognized by the International Chili Society. The winner will compete at the world championships this October in Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. . Thousand Oaks resident Joel Erickson, 62, is hoping to return to the finals - in which he competed a few years ago in Reno, Nev. While Delaney alternates his recipe periodically, Erickson's ``Dorset Gulch Chili'' has consisted of essentially the same ingredients throughout the 10 cookoffs he's entered since 1978. ``The recipe has won and eventually will win again,'' he said, referring to regional competitions. ``Judging is a very subjective art. But primarily we're there to have fun and support the charities. Winning is sort of secondary. I also serve as a judge in other (cookoffs). So I have some idea of what's winning and what isn't.'' Erickson said his team of six people has neither the desire nor energy to create an elaborate booth. Standing under a foldout fold·out n. 1. Printing A folded insert or section, as of a cover, whose full size exceeds that of the regular page. 2. A piece or part, as of furniture, that folds out or down from a closed position. canopy, with propane propane, CH3CH2CH3, colorless, gaseous alkane. It is readily liquefied by compression and cooling. It melts at −189.9°C; and boils at −42.2°C;. tanks and camp stoves, Erickson said his team will cook 10 to 15 gallons of chili, serving 300 to 400 people. The secret to his recipe is simplicity, he said. ``I keep it simple but use good ingredients,'' Erickson said. ``There's no sense in making it complicated. We don't get fancy and use 47 different spices. We use two or three.'' THE FACTS The 24th annual Conejo Valley Days Chili Cookoff Conejo Creek Park at the Janss Road and Highway 23 intersection. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cooking for judges 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Judging begins at 3 p.m. Winners announced 4:30 p.m. Cost: $3 per person; ages 12 and under are free. Chili tickets: 50 cents a ticket or 15 for $5. (Each two-ounce sample cup costs one ticket.) CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Bob Delaney of Newbury Park will be one of 80 cooks competing in Sunday's annual Conejo Valley Days Chili Cookoff, to be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. His three daughters Rebecca, 6, Nicole, 7, and Cassie, 11, play in the back coffin. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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