27th ANNUAL MULEGE CHILI COOK-OFF

Yes, chili lovers, it's that time of the year again. The 27th time, in fact.

In case you live on the far side of the moon...or anywhere outside of Baja, it's the Mulege Chili Cook-Off. Held in the town center square, this is the place and time to bring your favorite chili recipe for it's taste test.

I used to host a few of these chili contests at mi casa way back in the day...before the town event started at the Serinadad and Marybelle's RV Park. I can recall one early contest at my place where we could not allow Louis 'Wonton' Tung, a cruising sailor on his trimaran, Imperial Sunshine, to enter his Chinese vegetarian chili. We all agreed this was chili blasphemy and disqualified him outright. He was a mite miffed.

He got his revenge by cursing us every morning from his sailboat hatch as we motored past to the fishing grounds, "I spit in your milk, you foreign devils!" I never could understand the foreign devil part...but I cherish my milk and shuddered at his curse.

Another time I won 1st place! Some disgruntled complaints about submerged peso notes and coins in the chili were unfounded and never proven.

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HERE IS 2010's MULEGE CHILI COOK-OFF:







TAIL END CHILI (NO. 20) WAS MY PERSONAL CHOICE.
But..judges will be judges...and they seldom have anything to do with MY taste buds. Enough to say..they were ALL GOOD!









One of my favorite stops..the refreshment stand. Run by a gnarly crew of poker players. Where's the gin, Jaimie?



Collecting the judge's tasting samples. Hmm...wonder what cup those Viagra got into?



??..ah, best not to ask...



Must be on a lunch break.



Friends of the Children. One of my favorite charities, and some VERY good chili served by some delightful ladies...what could be better?



song..."I'm an ol cowhand, from the Rio Grande"... de Dakota Norte.



"Folks, remember there's a 20 peso fine for breaking wind this year."



"I owe for 10..got change?'


"2 tablespoons red cayenne pepper...5 cups black gunpowder."



"Well, when DID you last see your cat?"



"Psst! Hey, Pompano..I hate chili. Got any bacon?"




"Listen, if you hit me again with that big toe, I'm gonna de-nail you!"



NORMA - 2009 PROUD WINNER! Buena Suerte, Norma.



"Okay..here's booth 4..here's booth 14...and my favorite, booth 20." (Wanted: laundress..apply Pompano's)

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ALL IN ALL..IT WAS A LOT OF FUN...AND GREAT CHILI RECIPES BY ALL.

MULEGE DID IT AGAIN!