CHILI CHALLENGE

Area cooks show their skill at annual Brunswick Elks Lodge event

BRUNSWICK, N.Y. >> Chefs among the local community took the chance to show off their cooking skills on Sunday at the Brunswick Elks Lodge Chili Challenge.

The competition, now in its eighth year, is an annual wintertime fundraiser at which attendees taste different chilis and vote for their favorite, determining a Chili Challenge champion.

Sunday afternoon eventgoers were able to try about eight different kinds of chili, including traditional recipes with beef and beans as well as much more unique flavors.

“I don’t make a traditional chili,” said Stephanie Silvernail of Brunswick, a past champion who took home the second place title on Sunday. This year she brought two: an autumn chicken and apple cider chili and a Bloody Mary chili.

For the fourth time, contestant Don McKay was

named the Chili Challenge champion, this time for his traditional chili.

Returning participant Pam Greenberg cooked a creamy tequila lime jerk chicken chili this year. “I like to be different,” she said. “We’re going Carribean.”

First- time competitors Denise Swint of Grafton and her son Dyllon Thompson of Clifton Park brought Dyllon’s Magic Chili, a spicy chili for those who like some heat. The recipe included extra hot salsa and hot sauce, with the option to add sour cream to cool it down, or jalapenos to spice it up even more.

“It’s for a good cause, they do a lot for the community,” Swint, who recently joined the Elks auxiliary, said on

why they chose to participate. “We thought it would be fun to try our talents.”

The proceeds from the Chili Challenge go to the Brunswick Elks, which in involved with many charity initiatives around the

community throughout the year.

Along with raising funds for club efforts, Chili Challenge organizer Paul Greenberg said the purpose of the event is “just trying to bring the community together for a fun Sunday afternoon.”

Information about other upcoming Brunswick Elks Lodge events is available online at www.facebook.com/BrunswickElks.

LAUREN HALLIGAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Four-time Chili Challenge champion Don McKay serves a sample of his award-winning traditional chili at the event on Sunday at the Brunswick Elks Lodge.

LAUREN HALLIGAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A meat-lovers chili is stirred during the 2019 Brunswick Elks Lodge Chili Challenge.

LAUREN HALLIGAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Pam Greenberg of Brunswick serves a creamy tequila lime jerk chicken chili sample at the 2019 Brunswick Elks Lodge Chili Challenge.

LAUREN HALLIGAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Brunswick Elks Lodge 2019Chili Challenge trophy went home with the chili chef who earned the most votes at Sunday’s event.

LAUREN HALLIGAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Stephanie Silvernail of Brunswick serves a chili sample to an event attendee at the 2019 Brunswick Elks Lodge Chili Challenge.

LAUREN HALLIGAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Paul Greenberg of Brunswick serves his chili to event-goers at the 2019 Brunswick Elks Lodge Chili Challenge.