CHILI COOK-OFF @ LAKE LAS VEGAS

LOCATED ABOUT 5 MINUTES FROM HENDERSON LAKE LAS VEGAS IS AN OASIS IN THE DESERT WITH MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITIES SURROUNDED BY LAKES AND A GOLF COURSE PLUS MONTELAGO CASINO/MONTELAGO VILLAGE-AN OUTDOOR MALL OF SHOPS WITH AN OUTDOOR ICE RINK.

THE CHILI COOK-OFF HAD ABOUT 20-25 PARTICIPANTS AND MAYBE 250-300 ATTENDEES. THE GREEN VALLEY KIDS PLAY MUSIC FOR AWHILE, PEOPLE LINED UP FOR CHILI TASTING & HAMBURGERS,HOTDOGS AND DRINKS WERE SERVED AT THE MAIN ENTRY POINT TO THE COOK-OFF.

THE WAS RED CHILIS,GREEN VERDES AND SALSAS SOME WERE GOOD,SOME WERE UNUSUAL AND SOME WERE FIERY HOT. THERE WAS LAMB,CHICKEN,PORK,BEEF,WHITE BEAN,CAJUN, HAWAIIAN,BEAN RELISH,TRUFFLE OIL, AND LOTS OF OTHER DIFFERENT VARIATIONS.

SOME OF THE CHILI PARTICPANTS WERE THE RITZ-CARLTON, THE MONTELAGO,RAY BOGART'S CHILI COMPANY,THE AULD DUBLINER IRISH PUB,ZINC BISTRO, MEDICI CAFE,TESORO, SONRISA GRILL,SUNSET & VINES,CHEF BILLY JOE,LUNA ROSSA,INFERNO FOODS,CRAZY COW CHILI,MOOSE TRACK CHILI,BURRO BOB'S CHILI,LINE SHACK CHILI CO., RAH RAH CHILI CO.,MOUNTAIN EXPRESS CHILI, AND MANY MORE.

WE TRIED EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!!!A TASTING KIT WHICH INCLUDED A CUP,A SPOON, A BALLOT FOR PEOPLE'S CHOICE, A NAPKIN AND A PEEPERMINT WAS ONLY $3 AND YOU COULD TRY ALL THE CHILIS,ETC.$3 BEER $1 SODA/WATER.

I PURCHASED $5 WORTH OF RAFFLE TICKETS FROM A YOUNG LADY TRYING TO HELP OUT HER SCHOOL AND GUESS WHAT?

WE WON 2X OUT OF THE 5 TICKETS DRAWN. WE WON 2-$25 GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR STORES IN THE MONTELAGO VILLAGE. THIS PLACE ROCKS!!

THERE WAS 2 BOUNCE HOUSES FOR THE KIDS, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE LAKE AND THE MOUNTAINS, A VERY ENTERTAINING BUNCH OF CHILI FOLKS AND A FUN TIME HAD BY ALL.THE CHILI WASN'T HALF BAD EITHER. WE SAW A FEW OF THE SAME FOLKS FROM THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE TROPICANA LAST FALL.

WE VOTED FOR A GREEN PORK CHILI VERDE AS THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER. WE WON'T REVEAL WHO WE VOTED FOR BUT THEY WON!!

THE 1ST ANNUAL CHILI COOK-OFF WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AND I HOPE NEXT YEAR'S IS EVEN BIGGER & BETTER.

IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN OUT TO LAKE LAS VEGAS YOU MUST IT HAS A GREAT SMALL TOWN FEEL WITH ELEGANT GRACE.