A very hot and triumphant Labor Day weekend accompanied the 21st Annual Kiwanis Chili Cook-Off and Carnival at the Malibu Civic Center.
Friday night kicked off the yearly event with the carnival, coined as “Locals Night.” Saturday was “Family Day,” with events for children and Sunday was revved up a notch with tongue-flaming chili, music by Preston Smith and the Crocodiles and other groups, and the winning ticket was picked for the Porsche Boxster Giveaway.
Chili chefs from all over the United States arrived very early on Saturday morning to cook up their secret recipes in hopes of winning $1,500 and a chance to compete in the World Championship Chili Cook-Off (WCCC) in Reno, Nev., where the first prize is $25,000.
These chili chefs take chili very seriously. Not only the chefs, but also the International Chili Society (ICS), which has very strict rules on how to make chili. All chili must be cooked with meat or a combination of meats, with either red or green chili peppers (not mixed together). Chili with beans or pasta is strictly forbidden. This is definitely not a place for vegetarians or people with weak stomachs.
Actor Max Gail and Malibu resident Kim Devane picked the winning raffle ticket for the Porsche Boxster and announced the winning chili chefs. (Actor Linda Hamilton, who was scheduled to participate in the event, was on location in Canada wrapping up a film.) The Budweiser Girls (fully clothed) picked the winning raffle tickets for the Exotic Vacation, the Yamaha Guitar and the Ocean Kayaks.
The winner of the Porsche was Michael King from Brentwood, former owner and current consultant of King World Productions, Inc.
When King arrived to the stage, he proudly stated that he would re-raffle the car at his daughter’s elementary school, UES (a lab extension of UCLA), so children can continue to attend the school on scholarships.
The winner of the Exotic Vacation was Santa Barbara resident Mark Gaffrey. Gerald Perrone of Malibu won the kayaks, and Neil Witt of Malibu won the Yamaha guitar.
As for the winners for the best chili, 1st Place and a check for $1,500 went to an ecstatic Marilee Barrett of High Country Chili Too, from Lake Arrowhead. This will be Barrett’s ninth trip to the WCCC. Barrett was in tears when she arrived on stage to accept her award.
“Thank you so much, Malibu!” she said, shaking.
On Saturday, the 1st Place winner for the ICS Sanctioned Event was Jan Brown of Chili by Proxy. Brown won a trophy and $1,500. Malibu resident Brad Norris, owner of Malibu Health and Fitness, won three awards for his Baja Chicken Chili: Best Booth, 1st Place/People’s Choice and 1st Place in the unsanctioned Malibu’s Favorite Chili. Norris walked away with two trophies and a total of $450.
On Sunday, Steve Larson of Hot Damn Chili and Joe Camacho of Blazing Saddles both won two prizes each. Larson won $150 for 1st Place/People’s Choice and $300 for 1st Place/Malibu’s Favorite. Camacho won 2nd Place in the People’s Choice Award and 2nd Place in Malibu’s Favorite, walking away with $150 and a trophy.
Malibu’s own “beach walker,” Ted Vaill, won prizes on both days. On Saturday, Vaill placed 3rd in the People’s Choice Award and on Sunday placed 3rd for Malibu’s Favorite.
According to Malibu Kiwanis’ treasurer, Frank Miller, who has been the treasurer of the Malibu Chapter since 1982, the 21st Annual Chili Cook-Off was “across the board better then last year.” On Sunday, approximately 2,400 event tickets were sold. On Saturday, sales were up 32 percent from last year’s Saturday, according to the front gate figures. Even the chili sold out much earlier this year. The majority of chili ran out around 2 p.m. on Sunday, and the People’s Choice Chili sold 3 gallons in 65 minutes.
Friday night’s carnival surprised everyone. “It was much more than what we ever expected,” said Miller. The event went so well that the Kiwanis decided to continue the carnival into its second year of going on to Monday evening. Miller was very pleased with this year’s turnout. “I hope next year will even be better, if possible.”