CHILI COOK-OFF

So the local Rotary Club had its annual chili cook-off last weekend. This is kind of like our annual Brunswick Stewbilee except we eat chili instead of Brunswick Stew.

This is the entrance. The group of young men on the right gave out sampling packets to those who had tickets and made anyone without tickets go back and buy one.




Then we head for the street lined with booths where, with our paid stickers slapped on our chests and armed with napkins and spoons, we begin our sampling.



Working our way through people clustered around each booth, we grab more samples and continue eating.



Finally, filled to bursting with chili (and a few corn muffins and oysterette crackers), we leave to gaze back beyond the lonely cedar barely saved when the park was renovated.



The chili samples were off this year. If the chili wasn't way too spicy-hot, it was way too bland. We ate and ate and never did find the perfect mix. In fact, we were a little sick because we ate so much.

But the corn muffins were good.

BRUNSWICK STEW

Ah, who doesn't love Brunswick Stew? And everyone has his or her own favorite recipe. Probably not the one that includes squirrels and/or rabbits but certainly more than one meat. Along with the several meats the recipe takes, are several vegetables including but not limited to, lima beans and corn.

No one seems to know quite how Brunswick Stew got invented, but there are some interesting tales. Below is the pot that supposedly first cooked Brunswick Stew on St. Simons Island in 1898.

Why it should be displayed in Brunswick, Georgia rather than on St. Simons is a mystery, but there it is. And notice that there is some ambiguity here. The meaning could be that the first time the stew was made on the island was 1898. Or it could mean that that first time the stew was ever made, was on the island.

In any event, there are other claimants to the title of inventing it. One goes that it was originally made in Brunswick, Germany. Since most of its ingredients are indigenous to the Americas though, I kind of doubt this one is true.

Another one comes from Brunswick, Virginia. According to their marker (below), in 1828 a camp cook stewed some squirrels with onions, butter, stale bread and seasonings.

Since real Brunswick Stew requires several meats and vegetables (and so far as I know, no bread), this seems doubtful to me, too.

The most likely theory to me is the old Indian hunting stews, where bits of meat and whatever vegetables were handy were simmered together in a communal pot and enjoyed by the hunting band.

But despite the claims, there's no clear-cut answer.

My advice, when you come across it, is to enjoy it. Especially from Southern Soul, here on the island. Their stew is reminiscent of the Brunswick Stew my daddy used to go out and bring home when someone he knew in the country was cooking it. And oh, boy! It was good then and it's good now!

STEWBILEE's POOCH PARADE

Today was our annual Brunswick Stewbilee. We have Brunswick stew samplings from all kinds of different vendors. One little man was working feverishly at his table by himself, handing out samples, but there were no signs to indicate who he worked for. When I asked, he said, "Myself!" Turns out he's running for Clerk of Court next year! His stew was pretty good, but I think he neede better advertising around his table if he wants to get any votes.

There are also other activities: booths selling various things from cupcakes to jewelry, music from several bands during the day, a classic car show, children's activities, and -- my favorite! -- the Pooch Parade. I'll go into the cars next week but today we'll focus on the doggies!

Here are a couple. Not sure what they're supposed to be, but one of them looks like he's in his pajamas.

This sweet mastiff wore a wig and tutu. She won a prize for best big dog costume.

And here we have a clown with her yellow jacket. I thought she would have gotten a prize but was evidently beat out by a little dog with a cat on his back! Wish I could have got a picture of that but I never did see it.

And here we have a beekeeper, though you can't see him very well since he's standing behind his two bumblebees. Keeping them from escaping, no doubt.

You can't see the sweet little puppy very well, but the lady in red holding him is a volunteer. He wore a red bandana with ADOPT ME on it as he frolicked around. Several people were petting him so I hope he finds someone to take him home.

And the young people in yellow standing in front of the band, are members of the Boys and Girls Club. They volunteered to be judges for the Pooch Parade and did a fine job. I have no idea how they picked the winners because there were too many delightful costumes for me to show here. But the kids did finally decide, and then huddled around each winner and petted it and cooed over it.

I couldn't believe all the cutie pies and how well-behaved they were! Not a single fight or even a threatening grrr!

CRIME BLOTTER AND STEWBILEE

Last week was a slow week for crime, it seems. Not much was going on. A couple of things did catch my eye.

When a woman moved out of her boyfriend's house, he and her son got into a fight. After pointing a shotgun at her and threatening others in the house, he fled before police arrived. Later he came back. And poured grease onto her clothes. Hope she doesn't get hold of the shotgun!

In another item, a woman tried to shoplift a leopard print bra and underwear set by sneaking it out in another store's bag. Hey, how could anyone resist that leopard print?

And then an intoxicated man was talking on his cellphone outside a woman's house. He asked if she had a cellphone charger and she told him no. Then he came up and beat on her door while cursing. When he left, she went outside to find her keys missing from where she'd laid them on her porch railing. Don't think I'd have left my keys outside with a drunk stranger running around!

Finally, in another vein, we went over to the 15th annual Stewbilee this morning. There was one booth with games for the kids, other booths selling popcorn and snacks and drinks, one selling cupcakes, one doing henna tattoos, and a ton of portapotties lined up. There was also live music, a classic car show, and my favorite: the Pooch Parade of costumed doggies!

I almost forgot the Brunswick stew samples! It took us about an hour to try each offering. We went through 25-30 tiny sample cups and I don't think I want any more stew for awhile!

I'll have some pix on here in the next few days, but here's a sign from the beanbag toss.

STEWBILEE

Our town on the mainland had their annual stewbilee this past Saturday. Besides the Brunswick stew tastings, they had arts and crafts and games for the kids, a few vendors, an old/classic car/truck exhibition and a Pooch Parade!!! My photos didn't turn out too well but we had a great time! Here are some of the doggies:

This one was dressed as a devil.

This one was a ladybug, as was her owner.

This was my favorite! A shepherd disguised as a sheep!

And this one wore a tutu as did her owner. They won the grand prize, I believe, but unfortunately I couldn't get a good shot. They went by too fast!

SOUTHERN SOUL

We just finished up Brunswick stew and barbecue from Southern Soul. For those who have no clue, Southern Soul is THE barbecue place on our island. It was even featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (The Food Network).

As you might guess, it is a dive.

The original was in a former gas station. When it burned, the owner rebuilt on the same spot, a tiny lot on the roundabout with barely enough parking for 5-6 cars. Now it looks like -- a former gas station. Picnic tables line where the gas pumps used to be with barely room inside for a counter and a couple more tables.

Everyday when we go by, we smell the outside cooker cooking away. Ummm. We try not to succumb too often but this week, it got to be too much. Coming home Wednesday, I took a daring detour off the roundabout to get to it (it's very inconvenient to get in and out of), bought my pork barbecue and stew, and went out the back way.

Hard not to tear into it right in the car but I restrained myself. So now it's gone for another few months.

And the pound I lost last week is back.