With two tropical storms looming on the horizon, thousands of V.I. residents and visitors came to Brewer’s Beach Sunday afternoon to visit with friends, listen to live music, dance in the sand and eat chili to their heart’s content at the annual Texas Society of the V.I. Chili Cook-off.
This year marked the 25th anniversary of the Chili Cook-off, an event that started as a friendly chili competition in someone’s backyard and has grown into one of the island’s largest events. The Texas Society of the Virgin Islands is officially the Virgin Islands’ pod of the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI).
“We had a total of 51 meat and nine vegetarian entry fees paid, but due to the storm scare, I believe we have quite a few that didn’t show,” said Lori Abbots, “pepper popper” — or vice-president — of the Texas Society of the Virgin Islands.
Cindy Wortman-Ziel wore a red flapper dress and danced in front of Heidi’s Honeymoon Grill’s speakeasy.
“I wasn’t going to come this year, but when I saw the costumes, I had to come and play with my friends,” she said.
Kelli Pruiett and her husband, James, served up their chili with tiny balls of cornbread at the Shit Fire Martha’s Chili booth.
“My dad is an old-time Frenchie, and anytime something good or bad happened, he would say, ‘Shit fire Martha,’” she said. “We used his local hot peppers in the chili.”
Brian Emerich, local architect, spent the morning securing his boat in the lagoon on the east end of the island in preparation for the possible storms.
“If it weren’t for radar, this harbor would be full of boats,” he said.
Johnny Dago, a member of the biker group Carib Riders, put on a performance for onlookers, spinning the back tire of his Harley-Davidson until clouds of thick smoke obscured him from view.
“It’s an old biker tradition to burn a new tire off of its rim,” he said. “Whoever gets the most smoke wins as the alpha bike.”
The only incident marring the seemingly perfect day occurred when an unknown male appeared to be having difficulty in the water. Friends pulled him to shore and EMS personnel transported him to Schneider Regional Medical Center via ambulance. Police were unable to give any details, but did say that he appeared to have a pulse.
Erik Ackerson, in his 6th year as the “great pepper,” or president of the Texas Society of the Virgin Islands explained the purpose of the cook-off.
“This is my favorite day of the year,” he said. “We can come out and see family and friends while helping those that are in need and worse off than us.”
The proceeds from this year’s event will be divided among local organizations, including Dial-A-Ride, the Family Resource Center, the V.I. Institute of Performing Arts, the local Red Cross, Queen Louise Home for the Aged and St. Thomas Rescue. Power Squadron and Sparks manned the parking lot, charging $1 per vehicle, with proceeds going to both organizations.
The winners of this year’s chili competition:
1st Place: Mack Walker of Marshall, Texas
2nd place: Trish Hardy of St. Thomas
3rd place: Babbs Johnson of Irving, Texas
4th place: Doodie Johnson of Irving, Texas
5th place: Kelly Killingbeck of Uless, Texas
6th place: “Great Pepper” Erik Ackerson of Water Island
7th place: Nora Chapman of St. Thomas
8th place: Rob Carlin Jr. of St. Thomas
9th place: Marshall Hartman of St. Thomas
10th place: Donald Pomeranz of St. Thomas
As the top winner from St. Thomas, coming in second overall, Hardy will represent the territory at the international competition held, in early November in Terlingua, Texas.
Other winners:
Vegetarian Chili
1st place: Jasper Templeton of St. Thomas
2nd place: Melissa Harris of St. Thomas
3rd place: Teri Pearsall of Water Island
Showmanship, Large Group
1st place: Betsey’s Bar
2nd place: Heidi’s Honeymoon Grill
3rd place: M*A*S*H 4077, Ken Ryzner’s team
Showmanship, Small Group
1st place: Pirate Chili, Casey Thornberg
2nd place: Hula Hot Chili, Gregory Allen Akens
3rd place: Carib Riders Biker Chili team
