Winning Chili and Salsa Competitors Cook the Competition

Toms River, NJ …Judges and the voting public sampled from more than 35 spicy, taste-tingling entries to declare the winning chili and salsa cooks from the 19th Annual New Jersey State Chili & Salsa Cook Off. The hugely popular event, which is hosted by Downtown Toms River, attracts cooks from as far away as Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania and was held on Saturday, May 17 from 11 am to 5 pm.

The Cook-off features two divisions - the International Chili Society (ICS) sponsored categories and the People’s Choice ones. Both divisions offer three categories - red chili, chili verde and salsa. Prize money aside, for contestants entered into the ICS categories the singular goal is to win first place, which guarantees eligibility for the World Championships later this year.

The winners of the 2008 ICS competition are: Red Chili: 1st place and $1,500 was awarded to Linda Eckley of Frederick, MD; 2nd place and $500 went to Christine Johnson of Harrisburg, PA with Sneaky Pete’s Chili; 3rd place and $200 went to Doug Johnson also of Harrisburg, PA with Eagle Chili and 4th and 5th place, respectively, went to Roberto Bentjerodt with Hoboken Hole in One and Kim Eckley with Heaven Sent Chili, each receiving a trophy.

The ICS Chili Verde winners include: 1st place and $300 went to Kurt Leithner of Avenel, NJ with Dirty Kurty’s Chili; 2nd and 3rd place, respectively went to Life’s A Beef and Jeff Cousminer of Yardville, NJ with The Firm Four, each receiving a trophy.

ICS Salsa winners include: 1st place and $500 to Judy Omerza; 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, Firm Four and Jersey George Holmeyer of Bradley Beach, NJ, both receiving trophies. Best Booth and Showmanship trophies went to the Pop’s Hots booth, represented by Mary Miranda of Colonia, NJ for outstanding efforts. All of the ICS 1st place winners are invited to compete in the 2008 World Championship later this year as representatives for New Jersey.

This year’s People’s Choice winners are as follows: 1st place and $1000 went to WRAT Radio 95.9 and 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, went to Firm Four and Michael Piserchia of Bayville, NJ with Gunny Mike’s Devil Dog Chili, both receiving trophies. People’s Choice Salsa winners are: 1st place and $500 went to Firm Four and 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, went to Foodtown of Toms River and Wayne Smith, both receiving trophies.

The New Jersey State Chili & Salsa Cook Off is sponsored by Commerce, Comcast, Capone’s Gourmet Pizza & Restaurant, HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Toms River, Extra Space Storage, Mr. Alan’s The Original Florist, New Jersey Natural Gas, Tracy Harman Photography, United Water Toms River and radio stations WJRZ and The WRAT.

Upcoming Downtown events include: Cruisin’ Downtown, the second Wednesday of each month through September; the 6th Annual New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival, July 19; the 3rd Annual Pizza, Pasta, Pastry, September 27; and the weekly Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays from June 11 through October 22.

For additional information on this event or other Downtown events in Toms River, call 732-341-8738 or Allen Consulting at 732-946-2711 or visit www.downtowntomsriver.com.