Swannanoa cook-off names chili, cornbread champ

CHILI CHAMPS: From left to right, 2013 chili champion Jerry Hubbard, who placed third in this year's Chili and Cornbread Cook-off , is pictured with second-place chili winner Colleen Harris and this year's double winner, Robert Duncan. Photo by Jackie Kitchen

Swannanoa native Robert Duncan nabbed both of the top prizes in Swannanoa United Methodist Church’s second annual Chili and Cornbread  Cook-off on Saturday, Nov. 8, according to a press release from event organizers.

Colleen Harris of  Black Mountain won second prize in the chili category and third prize went to Jerry Hubbard  of  Hendersonville, who won last year’s competition. Betty Crowder of Swannanoa received honorable mention.

In the cornbread division,  Roni Turnbull of Arden placed second, SUMC member and Mills River resident Mary Ann Wasson took third  and Jerome Wallin of  Swannanoa  received  honorable mention. Crowd Pleaser awards went to Harris for chili and Turnbull for cornbread.

Judges for the competition included Leah McGrath, dietitian for  Ingles Markets; Jackie Kitchen, head chef of the Swannanoa Welcome Table,  and Rich Ploch, who retired as pastor of Swannanoa United Methodist Church five years ago.

The competition is organized by the United Methodist Women’s Auxiliary and coordinated by its president, Wasson, to raise money to fund local mission projects. This year’s event raised more than $585, nearly double the amount raised in 2013.

Nine contestants vied for prizes in the event, and local chili and cornbread  lovers spent nearly three hours sampling entries.

 

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