The first annual Firehouse World Chili Bowl Cook-Off to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation was held at the San Diego Convention Center.
What will become a continuing fundraiser at the Expo, started with six local fire departments; San Marcos Fire Department, Riverside Fire Department, San Bernardino Fire Department, Redding Fire Department, San Diego Federal Fire Department, and California Fire State Firefighters Association, showing off their special recipies.
Convention Center rules dictated that center chefs had to do the cooking. Department members then served up the chili to attendees who numbered between 200 to 300.
A celebrity panel of Ed Hadfield, Fire Captain/Training Instructor at Huntington Beach FD, Dennis Compton, vice chairman NFFF, Ron Siarnicki, executive director NFFF, and Pat Maroder, publisher Firehouse Magazine, tasted each recipe not knowing from which department, and chose the Judges Award. That winner was the Redding department.
Those in the audience voted the People's Choice award going to San Marcos FD. California Fire State Firefighters Association won the presentation award.
"I knew I had a good chance," said Al Ditzthum, retired from the Redding department. His recipe which he modified from an old cookbook and one he had been serving from the firehouse kitchen for years, already has brought him three other trophies.
Firefighter Jack Hayes from San Marcos, contributed his family recipe and some members at the firehouse added a few touches. He has been cooking it at the firehouse for a couple of years.
Chief Billy Goldfeder emceed the evening. Sponsores included Mallory Fire, Rae Systems, Eagle Compressors and FireDex.
