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Blawnox Sportsmen Club warms up with members-only chili cook-off

Gemma Pollice
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 5:07 p.m. | Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 5:07 p.m.

Gemma Pollice | TribLive

Winners of the Blawnox Sportsmen Club’s chili cook-off Feb. 25 are (from left) Heather Witas of Sharpsburg, second place; Denise Latino of Blawnox, first place; and Bryan Elder of O’Hara, third place.

Gemma Pollice | TribLive

Organizer Tim Stroupe of O’Hara helps himself to a cup of chili during the Blawnox Sportsmen Club’s chili cook-off Feb. 25.

The Blawnox Sportsmen Club held its first members-only chili cook-off Feb. 25.

Eleven chili entries were judged in five categories by more than 20 fellow members serving as taste testers.

Points were awarded for presentation, smell, flavor, texture and overall impression.

First place went to Denise Latino of Blawnox for her bison and ground pork chili. Latino’s chili include multiple fixings that one could add to enhance the chili.

Second place went to Heather Witas of Sharpsburg for her Texas-style beef brisket and sirloin blend.

Third place went to Bryan Elder of O’Hara for his elk and chorizo baked chili with cornbread crust.

“This is all for the members,” said Tim Stroupe of O’Hara, the event organizer. “It’s winter, it’s cold and there’s no football.”

Stroupe hopes the chili cook-off will become an annual event.