Chili cooks gather at marina

Pirates, political candidates, and John Wayne were all in attendance at the ninth annual Buzzard’s Breath Chili Cookoff last Saturday at the Elochoman Slough Marina.

Six teams competed in this year’s event, including Steven and Debra Price from Portland, Oregon, colorfully dressed as the “Pirates of the Chilibean.” The enthusiastic duo took home prizes for People’s Choice as the best booth and the best chili.

Mike Eckert of “Tombstone BBQ and Chili Competition Team” from Kalama won the Tolbert category with his spicy Texas Red chili. Mike stated that he and his family particularly enjoy competing in Cathlamet because “it’s relaxing, and no other competition has this beautiful setting.”

Local teams included Kay Cochran and Toni Robinson from Lower Columbia Realty who entered with their “Louisiana Red Bean Miracle Chili” and Richard Erickson, Chamber of Commerce President and proprietor of the Villa at Little Cape Horn, who revived the “Duke’s Chisum Chili” in honor of John Wayne. Rick Winsman, Republican candidate for State Senate, cooked up a batch “just for the public to enjoy.”

This year’s Chamber of Commerce sponsored event was Tolbert sanctioned, meaning that competitors could win points to become eligible to enter their version of Texas Red chili at the Original Terlingua International Championship in Grapevine, Texas.

Next year’s Buzzard's Breath Chili Cookoff will take place on August 31.