HIGH SPRINGS — Chili lovers gathered at O’Leno State Park Saturday for the Chili Appreciation Society International Inc.’s sixth annual O’Leno Ole’ Chili Cook Off.
All proceeds went to the O’Leno Nature Center. The funds will used to feed and care for the animals at the center, said Ed Bisch, one of the judges at the event.
The regulation category was based on Texas-style chili — just meat and gravy. In the open category, anything was allowed. One participant, Stephen Spicer, of High Springs, mixed buffalo meat in his Ragin’ Cajun chili.
Brenda Macrides, of Fort White, said she participated in the cook-off for fun.
“For me, it’s just about raising money for good charities and meeting people,” she said.
Macrides’ Bella-the-Ball Black-Bean Chili, which consists of chuck roast, black beans and corn, won the People’s Choice award last year. She entered the chili again this year in hopes of winning two years in a row.
At the end of the competition, Spicer came out on top in the People’s Choice category. Pat Zimmer, of High Springs, won in the regulation category with his ground beef and Fort Worth chili powder. Macrides won in the open category.
“Shake and taste,” Macrides said. “I just shake spices in and taste it until I like it.”
