Chili Contest Returns with a Kick

By Katie McFadden

The 100th Precinct Community Council and Kiwanis Club’s Chili Cookoff came back with a kick! After cooling off since Covid, the beloved event made its triumphant return at the Knights of Columbus and Callie’s was crowned the chili champ!

The annual Chili Cookoff was started by former 100th Precinct Community Council president Danny Ruscillo in 2010 as a fundraiser and community camaraderie builder. But with most things, Covid put it on pause as most 100th Precinct Community Council meetings went virtual. Earlier this year, a new board was sworn in with Liz Geraghty at the helm, and they decided to bring the event back along with the Kiwanis Club. Also coming back for the event was previous Council president Kathy Heavey, who served as a contest judge along with community activist Ozzie Edwards, who has long supported the Council, and Knights of Columbus bartender and St. Camillus Special Olympics volunteer, Ray Otton.

For a $25 entry fee, the community was welcome to try all of the chili and mac and cheese samples, along with the judges, and all had their work cut out for them in choosing the best of the best out of 14 chili submissions and eight mac and cheese submissions from local restaurants, organizations and individuals.

In the chili competition, as chosen by the judges, Callie’s chili, made by chef Mario, won first place, while Batesy’s won second place. The People’s Choice chili went to the 100th Precinct’s own Detective Anthony Byrd from Community Affairs.

And for mac and cheese, first place went to Tanya Cleckley of DSNY, and second place AND the People’s Choice award went to Last Stop on Beach 116th Street.

And those weren’t the only award winners of the night. The Council also presented an appreciation award to 100th Precinct Community Council treasurer does Jean Daouphars for all of the hard work he does for the Council. Several guests also went home with raffle prizes, and DJ Eddy Pastore kept them entertained with tunes all night.

Overall, Geraghty said the return event was a success, and they hope to kick it up a notch next year. “The event went well! Next year, bigger and better since it was first one since Covid,” she said. Congrats to all who participated!

Photos from the 100th Precinct Community Council.