Chili takes center stage in Glendale Heights

The two gallons of chili firefighter Chris Wallin made Sunday was the best of the best from the Glenside Fire Protection District.

"We had a couple of chili cook-offs at our station to decide what we were going to use," he said. "We heard the cops won this thing last year, so we thought we'd give them a run for their money."

Eight teams spent Sunday morning brewing up their own spicy concoctions in the village's second annual Chili Cook-off and Bags Tournament at Heritage Park in Glendale Heights. In addition to cooks from the police and fire departments, a couple of local families, employees from Glendale Lakes Golf Club, and parks department employees came out to put their recipes to the test.

Nicole Chesak, the recreation supervisor for the parks department, got into the spirit of the moment, donning a witch outfit and decorating her tent in a Halloween theme.

"Last year, I didn't have my mom and the chili wasn't good. So we offset that by decorating," she said. "This year I thought I'd bring my mom and dress up."

The recipe for the Glendale Heights Police Department is the same as last year's, but Police Chief Mike Marron wasn't spilling the beans on his secrets. Neither were the firefighters.

"It's our secret recipe," firefighter Don Nelson said. "I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

In the end, it was the team from Glendale Lakes Golf Club that finished first, besting out both the cops and firefighters. But the fire district didn't go home empty-handed. The team won the People's Choice certificate for its traditional chili, and firefighter Don Sparks won the jalapeno-eating contest.

The condition of the fire station's bathroom, however, wasn't immediately available.