Former UK All-American punter Max Duffy was a popular judge at the Kiwanis Club Charity Chili Cookoff and got a couple of keepsakes from the staff for his judging skills. (Larry Vaught Photo)
One of my favorite events is the Kiwanis Club Charity Chili Cook-Off at Wilderness Trail Distillery on a near perfect weather day — warm and sunny.
First, it’s for a great cause that allows the Kiwanis Club to help both children and senior citizens at Christmas and that is special. The Kiwanis Club in Danville does great work and the club members are everywhere at this event smiling and thanking everyone.
Second, the chili is great. This year 25 teams participated and it has to be obvious that no one comes out to his event who cannot fix great chili. It’s great fun just to watch so many “chefs” preparing their chili with their own special ingredients. I loved the team that was grilling hot peppers to get them ready. Another team had cornbread to go with the chili. This year one chili had peaches — and was remarkably good and I plan to try to find a recipe to follow because I really liked it.
Third, I got to be one of the guest judges again along with hometown radio legend Charlie Perry, Norton Center for the Arts Director Steve Hoffman, Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Kendall Clinton and former UK All-American punter/Kentucky Sports Radio personality Max Duffy.
Our choices when the votes were counted had Boogie Knights No. 1, Randall Best Chili No. 2 and Team Barsotti No. 3. The People’s Choice Award — voted on by patrons who attended — was Douglas Catering.
But again, THERE WAS NO BAD CHILI.
This year’s event was even more fun for me because of Duffy and my intern, Boyle County junior Annabelle Tarter who helped me with my judging. Neither one is a chili lover even though Duffy said he had been training by eating chili at Wendy’s — which cannot compare with what he tasted Saturday.
A lot of folks came out to meet and say hi to Duffy and I was glad he got to “sample” a few of the Wilderness Trail Distillery products thanks to Emily Toadvine and got a little swag to take home from the great staff at Wilderness Trail Distillery.
The Big Rebel Nation crew from Boyle County High School came out to see Duffy and he’s going to join them for their live stream when Boyle plays at Lexington Catholic Oct. 7 and maybe even getting him to join them for the Boyle-Frederick Douglass game on Oct. 28.
