pics by Alan Dickson
It’s tough being the awesomest amateur cooking event in all the land – when people come to the Brooklyn Chili Takedown, they expect the best of the best – and I have to deliver. Good thing I could rely on 28 of the baddest (meaning good) cooks ever! Their vicious attitude and blood lust contributed to a full blown chili riot on the dance floor!
Check out the Village Voice slide show here, from photog Mollye Chudacoff! And Metromix was super awesome too!!!
CONTESTANTS (in no particular order):
Melissa Sands – Takedown favorite Fork This
Alex Taylor – learned quickly the sweet science of sterno
George Motz – Mamma’s boy! Used his mom’s recipe to WIN!
Nick Suarez always wins!!!
Phoebe Lapine – “Brink Autumn Chili”
Chris Greenberg – “Chili con Cornbread”
Mike O’Neil – shockingly this guy did not place! but his chili was dandy!
Monte Isom – “The Panty Dropper Chili” (really??!)
Daniel Marino – spiciest chili of the day!
Jenn de la Vega – “Geri Haliwell, you know GINGER SPICE from the Spice Girls?” A spicy blend of longaniza and beef chuck in a ginger stew, topped with roasted tomato and Jamaica Salsa Verde.
Bronwyn Fleming-Jones – made her own pastry cups and filled them with chili magic.
Mark Bernal – “Brother Mark’s Chilli con Carne with Beef”
Tony Santoro – Takedown first timer! Fresh meat… “Holy Mole’ Chili”
Gabriella Bass – a vicious dark horse challenger
Stephen Cash – usually wins, not this time!
Ida Vega-Landow – Live long and prosper, Ida!!!
Afshin Darian – Afshin’s 10-Pepper Smoke Alarm Chili
Nicole Confrey +Joseph Guzman – brutal metal chili
Claudia Nell Ward – left Jack The Kid at home, her chili made friends with Brooklyn
Jordan Goldstein – veggie chili was wowzers!
Vincent Como – “The Blasphemer” was a truly dark veg chili!
Ruth Shin – multitasker – juggled husband, baby, 2 gallons of expert chili
Chris and Nell Muldoon- chili couple from the very depths of hell!
Kenneth Oglesby – came in off the waiting list, had blast!
Thanks to all these dudes for coming out and nailing our hearts to the floor! We love you! It’s a bummer they can’t all be winners, but there must be winners or it wouldn’t be a Takedown!
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
1st George Motz #28 – “Mama’s Kiss Ass Chili”
2nd Nick Suarez #9 – “Chili Heaven”
3rd Phoebe Lapine #11
JUDGES AWARDS (Rachel Wharton, Edible Brooklyn – Andrew Dorsey, Marlow and Daughters)
1st Melissa Sands #18 – “Chili Five Oh!”
2nd Dan Marino #7
3rd Nick Suarez #9 – “Chili Heaven”
Vegetarian Chili honorable mention
Vincent Como – #13 “The Blasphemer”
