Crowd filled Central Park, soup filled their tummies

MT. PLEASANT — Thanks in part to a beautifully warm Friday evening and the promise of delicious soups, chilies, and beverages, Main Street Mt. Pleasant saw a large crowd gather in Central Park for another successful year of Pints in the Park.

With five soup entries and 12 chilies, attendees enjoyed a variety of traditional and new flavors ranging from soothing and rich to extra spicy.

As they made their way through the park taste testing each soup and chili, they cast their votes for People’s Choice and judges selected their favorites, as well.

Brian Morris and Addington Place wowed the judges to snagged first place for best chili and best soup while Backroad Shenanigans and Central Park Coffee Company stole the hearts of the people and earned best chili and soup form their votes.

Regardless of who won what, makers and tasters alike enjoyed the evening filling their bellies and catching up with familiar faces around the park.

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“That’s really good!” Will Kinney exclaimed as he excitedly tasted an extra spicy chili made by Brian Morris.

Kinney quickly rated the chili a nine out of 10 saying he was looking for one with a lot of kick.

“It has every pepper in it,” Nicole Faul advertised as she dished out the chili.

Right next to the extra spicy chili, Donna Preston offered a soothing white chili which helped put out the fire in many taster’s mouths.

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For Preston just making her white chili is sufficient reason for her to attend the event.

According to Preston, she created this recipe several years ago for a different chili cook-off and has perfected the recipe over the years.

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After the crowds enjoyed their fill of chili and soup, they slowly filled the grass with lawn chairs as they sat around and enjoyed music from Whiskey Friends while the sun began to set on a beautiful evening in Mt. Pleasant.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com