Elgin cook headed to nationals after win in Batavia's Chili Cook Off

On July 26, the Batavia Park District and Batavia Chamber of Commerce teamed up to host the 22nd annual state championship Chili Cook Off in downtown Batavia.

This year, Homestyle and Restaurant divisions were added in addition to the Chili Appreciation Society International Division. In total, 28 chefs participated in the competition with 14 competing in the state championship. A panel of judges critiqued the 14 entries on odor, color, consistency, taste and after taste. The top 10 entries then went on to the finals where a second panel of judges rated each entry.

The 2014 winners are: Marty Apel, Batavia, 10th place; Cheryl Piersion, Batavia, ninth place; Randy Metz, Lombard, eighth place; Georgia Weller, Rockton, seventh place; Julie Nester, Seymour, Ind., sixth place; Mike Stevens, Homer Glen, fifth place; Chris Apel, Batavia, fourth place; Rick Geiger, Midlothian, third place; Brian Spencer, Champaign, second place; and Jim Filgut, Elgin, first place.

Filgut will advance on to the national competition in Terlingua, Texas, on Nov. 1. The winner of the Restaurant Division was The Range Grill & Tap from Batavia. The winner of the Homestyle Division was Jack Kinsman of Geneva.

For more information about the competition, contact Aleks Briedis, Director of Community Recreation for the Batavia Park District, at aleksb@bataviaparks.org.