Saturday’s 25th annual Big Chili Contest was big indeed, no matter how you measure it — 2,000 tickets sold and about $35,000 raised for the Red Stocking Fund.
“It was the most successful Chili Contest to date,” Greg Orcutt, MVY Radio general manager, said. The radio station hosts the event. “We could have sold another thousand. Tickets went really fast. After 25 years, I think people recognize they have a great time with it. They know it’s going to be a great afternoon.”
Organizers sold a few hundred more tickets than usual by expanding the tent set up on the grounds of the Portuguese-American Club (P-A Club) in Oak Bluffs. Vendors occupied two additional alcoves off the big tent, to give attendees more room to socialize on the main floor.
Chili Contest results:
Professional Category
1. Little Red Smokehouse
2. Black Dog Tavern
3. JR Brody’s Roadside Tavern
Amateur Category
1. Bonnie Bearse & Dave Mutti
2. Don Welts (P-A Club)
3. Edgartown Firemen’s Association
Special mvyradio awards:
Best veggie chili: The Black Dog
Best Presentation: Little Red Smokehouse
Hottest Chili: Steve Jordan’s Pirate Chili
Is It Really Chili?: Seafood chili from Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Co.
Most Traveled: Dr. Jack’s Love Chili of Glastonbury, Conn.
Jenny Johnson, host of NECN’s TV Diner, top 3 picks.
1. ($500 prize): Offshore Ale
2. ($300 prize): Little Red Smokehouse
3. ($100 prize): Brendan Cooney (Oak Bluffs EMS)
