Clovis Point Vineyard in Jamesport held its first Chili Cookoff Saturday, an event that raised more than $1,500 to support Group for the East End.
The event featured a dozen entries — eight amateur, four professional — competing for three prizes. Catherine and Edward Zawadski of Selden won the overall prize and the award for the top amateur chili. Amarelle in Wading River beat out Piping Plover in Southold, Custom Catering of the North Fork and The Harvest Inn in Peconic in the professional category.
“We had a tremendous turnout,” said Clovis Point owner Hal Ginsburg. “We thank all of our amateur and professional chefs whose efforts made today possible and we are thankful for all the people who attended the event.”
Mr. Ginsburg, who organized the event along with tasting room manager Kelly Bruer, said he was excited to host an event that benefited a group dedicated to protecting the environment on the East End.
Group for the East End director of community outreach called the event a win-win for the two organizations.
SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT
BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTOS | Dominique Mendez of Wading River gets a serving of Wading River's Amarelle's chef's Lia Fallon's Crescent Farm Duck leg confit chili with andouille sausage, six kinds of peppers, smoked tomato jus and dark chocolate. It came in first place.Louis Maconi of Mesa, Arizona serves up some of Edward Zawadski's chili made with hot Italian sausage, merlot wine, and semi-sweet chocolate.The Harvest Inn of Peconic chef Christopher Augusta serves up his 'Four Pepper Chili with Margarita Cream' to Catherine Zawadski of Selden, She and her husband Edward came in first place in the amateur category.Nick Carey of Jamesport serves his chili to Peggy Brandeburg of Mt. Sinai and Nancy Stingel of Woodbury. His secret ingredients were bacon and bourbon to make it sweet and smoky.The Harvest Inn (left) and Amarelle's chef serves up Edward Zawadski of Selden whose chili came in first in the amateur category.Amarelle's chef Lia Fallon serves up her Crescent duck chili to Joe Farrar of Miller Place.Doug Gannon of Stony Brook gives a tasting of his 'Hot and Sweet Chili' to Mark Gargano of Miller Place.Maggie Marra of Mattituck with her friend Barbara Schnitzler of New Suffolk taste Shari Berkowitz of Queens vegetarian chili with cornbread topping.Enjoying wine and chili tasters (from left) Gary and Lynn Swanson of Charlotte North Carolina, Andrea Wiehl of Hampton Bays and Lynn and Mike Wiebe of Hampton Bays.Linda McCarthy of Yaphank with chili tasters Linda Nemeth of Calverton and Walter Blanck of Baiting Hollow. Her special ingredients included Clovis Point cabernet franc, Yuengling beer, fire-roasted corn and peaches.Group for the East End's director of community outreach Kate Fullam mans the information table.Group for the East End volunteer Kerry Goleski of Southampton hands out tastings of "Judy and Kate's Chipolte Black Bean Tomato Chili'.Cynthia and Chris Rogers of Queens enjoy the chili and wine outside the tasting room in the mild winter temperature.
