Firefighters took the heat last Saturday when they served as judges for the Elks Lodge Chili Cook-Off. Orange County Fire Authority Captain Pablo Barriga and his team of Firefighter/Paramedics Pat Thayer, Doug Mann, Shane Allan and Brian Gish carefully judged the entries.
“These guys really know their chili,” said Elks judging official Andy Costello. “They were very methodical in judging the samples, even though I saw some red faces and teary eyes. A couple fearless firefighters said they had eaten hotter.” A few gallons of soda and ice-tea helped to put out the inner fire while they sampled the offerings.
Winners Andrea Collins & Babe Giuliano with Capt Barriga
When it was all over, the Elks Run-A-Way campers club team led by Andrea Collins and Babe Giuliano took top honors and was also winner of “The People’s Choice” trophy.
The runners-up trophy went to The Elks Ladies Club led by Phyllis Booze and Carol Glover.
Third place was awarded to the team of “Eye Candy” with Scott Clough & Rich Zierhut doing the cooking.
Event chairman Pat Martino thanked the firefighters and then refocused on Elks charity work. “We’ll clean up the place after this and be ready to entertain one hundred twenty-five seniors tomorrow afternoon for a dinner dance we sponsor,” he said.
The Elks have a very full holiday schedule planned with visits to the Vets hospital, dinners benefiting the Cancer Kids fund and Handicapped Children’s fund, a holiday party for the developmentally challenged, phone cards and packages to the troops and food drives for the needy. Teams of Elks have already begun delivering 4,400 personal dictionaries to third graders in 2 school districts. For more information on Elks charities or membership call (949) 858-3557.
