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‘Jabbo Chili’ wins 6th-annual chili cook off

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lealan Buehrer
  • 182nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Tech. Sgt. Alex R. Sea, vehicle equipment maintenance specialist with the 182nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, won the sixth-annual chili cook off for overall points at the 182nd Airlift Wing, Peoria, Ill., Jan. 8, 2014.

Sea defeated 12 other contestants for the second time with his Jabbo Chili recipe, and was awarded a five-year membership to the wing's consolidated club and had his name added to the plaque of winners. The chili entries were judged by a panel of fellow wing members on best look and smell, best consistency, best taste and an overall combined score.

Sea used the same recipe for all three years he's competed, which also won best consistency this year.

"It's pretty basic. Deer burger and a little bit of TLC is all it takes," he said. "There's a little bit of secret seasoning in there, but that's pretty much it."

The competition was tough, he said, and it felt great to win bragging rights for the year.

The rivalry gets pretty heated sometimes, he said. "There's a lot of smack-talking that goes on."

He had one piece of advice for future contenders and a big grin. "Keep entering, and I'll keep beating you."

Sea enjoys the event because he gets to have good chili with good people, he said. "It's a good way to get out and mingle and talk to the people you don't usually see on a day-to-day basis."

The event brought out approximately 120 unit members to sample the various white and traditional red entries, and raised $490 in support of operating the wing's consolidated club.

Master Sgt. Angela M. Rudd, squadron personnel specialist with the Force Support Squadron, started the competition in 2007 when the club was financially struggling. The contest has grown into an annual tradition at the wing.

"I thought this would be a fun way to try to raise money for it," she said. "All the feedback that I get is that everyone loves it, that they look forward to it. Some people want it a couple times a year."

The award of best presentation was Senior Airman Jake Watkins, aerospace maintenance journeyman with the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, for his Chili Chili Bang Bang recipe. The best taste and the people's choice awards went to Master Sgt. Ian Behringer, guidance and control shop chief with the Maintenance Squadron, for his Repeat Chili dish.

The runners up for the people's choice award were Chief Master Sgt. Roger D. Masters, supply superintendent of the Logistic Readiness Squadron, for his Meat Lovers Chili and Staff Sgt. Taylor K. Webb, fire protection specialist at the Civil Engineer Squadron, for his Firehouse Chili.