It's Tuesday February 11, 2025
October 29, 2024
The Chili Cook-Off is a fundraiser. But it’s also a competition. The 1st Place Chili Award is something few can list on their resume.Saturday Oct 26 ten chefs (and their crews) arrived. Hundreds of chili consumers came. They ate. They voted.
Crowds came for the chiliOne chili entrant called for support from a higher power.The requirements for making chili are not complex. There’s nothing that says what has to be in it. It can be beef. Chicken. Pork. Veggie. Maybe even roadkill (no one fessed up to that).
There is one simple and absolute requirement: bring at least 5 gallons of chili.
The chili made by the Marines (Oriental Dragon Detachment, Marine Corp League). It’s called USMC Messhall Chili, but they denied using “SOS” ingredients.The funds raised benefit The Old Theater in Oriental. The winner this year – Chef Rachael Applebee with Inland Waterway Provision Company (Rachael also manages the store).
The winning chili – served up & ready to eat.Serving the Provision Company chili was Donna Armento, here with the 1st place trophy.1st Place People’s choice award went to Chubby’s Southern BBQ. There was a clear indication of how popular Chubby’s chili was – half way through the event it was all gone.Chef Sullivan Ray, Chubby’s Southern BBQ, with the 1st Place People’s Choice Award.Judges’ Award;
1st Place – Inland Waterway Provision Company, Chef Rachael Applebee
2nd Place – Toucan Grill & Fresh Bar, un-named Chefs from the Grill
3rd Place – Chili Chili Bang Bang, Chefs Robert Riddle and Teresa ConradsPeople’s Choice:
1st Place – Chubby’s Southern BBQ, Chef Sullivan Ray
2nd Place – Marine Corps League Oriental Dragon Detachment, Chefs Martin Musella, Michele Musella & Doreen Musella
3rd Place – Toucan Grill & Fresh Bar, un-named Chefs from the GrillSpirit Award:
1st Place: Chili Chili Bang Bang with Chefs Robert Riddle and Teresa Conrads
2nd Place: Dazzling Dynamos from Girls on the Run, Chefs Julie Wiegand, Vickie Conrad, Ben Wynne, and Anne Smith
3rd Place: St. Thomas Episcopal, Chef JackieThe 2024 Chili Cook-Off Judges: Donnie Cox, Chief Meteorologist at News Channel 12, Brantley Norman, Jr., Brantley’s Village Restaurant, Addrean Hahn, Studio 55 Salon and Spa.
Dragon themed Chili Cook-Off trophies.The Girls On The Run crew served up “White Lightning” chicken chili.White Lightning chicken chili.Fire Chief Eric Kindle hangs with the smokey chili pot. South Pamlico Fire Station 19 created chili with an appropriate theme – smokey fire chili.Robert Riddle and Teresa Conrads entered as “Chili Chili Bang Bang” – winning two awards. 1st Place Spirit Award, and 3rd Place Judges Award.From the Old Theater:The Old Theater would like to thank the community as a whole and specifically Tom McIlhenny of the Oriental Marina & Inn for hosting the Chili Cookoff, the Rotary Club for supplying tables and chairs, and the sponsors and donors who continue to show their support for our local theater.It’s not to early for you to ponder entering the 2025 Chili Cook-off. There is no fee to enter. The only requirement… provide at least five gallons of chili. Businesses, groups and individuals can all enter.
If you’ve got the spicy credentials, contact vp@oldtheater.org.
The Old Theater is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization that provides the people of Oriental and Pamlico County a venue for cultural and civic events.
Posted Tuesday October 29, 2024 by Keith N. Smith

















