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Brooklyn Ruritan Club Chili Cook-off brings top chefs together
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
BROOKLYN — There was plenty of good company, good music and some tasty chili recipes from local chefs at the first Brooklyn Ruritan Chili Cook-Off and Soup Supper Saturday, March 29.
Twenty-six chili chefs participated in the event held at the Michael J. Manatt Community Center.
Three categories of chili recipes were judged.
Terry Clayton earned top honors in the traditional chili category with his brisket chili.
Jody Clayton took home top honors in the spicy chili category with his pork and jalapeno spicy chili.
Kim Bauman was the top winner with a white chicken chili recipe that she found in a magazine.
Judging was done by an independent group of judges.
Rusty Clayton, of the Brooklyn Ruritan Club, oversaw the evening’s activities.
“The judges said it was a tough job picking the winners and felt everyone was a winner,” said Clayton. “It was a great turnout and everybody had a great time.”
Special guest at the event was Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, who visited with local residents while tasting chili.
In addition to the chili, Ruritan Club members cooked and served homemade potato and ham, chicken noodle and vegetable beef soups at the event and topped off the meals with tasty cinnamon rolls.
When asked if there was anything secret to his success in the traditional chili category, Terry said, “I enjoy cooking for fun and threw some stuff together. It was a nice event.”
Jody, who has years of experience in the kitchen said the key to his spicy chili was using super-tender pork. His recipe consisted of three pounds of pork and five pounds of jalapeno peppers.
“I like the peppers to stay on the tongue,” he said.
Jody founded the Classic Deli in June 2012 and owned it until 2019.
Bauman said she found the recipe for her white chicken chili entry in a magazine. “I have had a lot of people ask me for the recipe.
“I did tweak it a bit,” Bauman said. “But mostly it follows the original recipe.”
Bauman said the Ruritan Club was pleased with the turnout.
Music was provided by Late Shift, a group of mostly school music teachers, according to Bauman.
The event was a fundraiser for the upcoming Brooklyn 175th Celebration, June 12-15. A final tally was not available for this article.
“The Brooklyn Ruritan Club Chili Cook-off made for great food and even better company,” said Congresswomen Hinson.
“I was happy to take part in this fantastic tradition and catch up with constituents over a shared chili supper. Community events like this that bring friends and neighbors together are what make Iowa so great.”
Captions:
Terry Clayton — Traditional Chili - Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson presents the winning ribbon to Terry Clayton for his winning traditional chili entry in the annual Brooklyn Ruritan Chili Cook-off on March 29.
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