Chilly weather calls for chili cook-off

The aroma of something smoky, sweet, and spicy filled the Computer and Information Systems building on a crisp, cool day on Nov. 17. You would have never guessed that delicious smell to be the Promoting Unity through Recognition and Recreation Committee’s inaugural cook-off, and to complement the weather, this semester’s theme was chili. 

Each semester, Jennifer Beilman, the committee’s chair and Natalie Vasquez, the professional development coordinator for the committee, host a lighthearted and fun workshop to build bonds within the Riverside City College instructor and employee community. 

To increase attendance at the more serious and rigorous workshops they host, the committee occasionally incorporates fun elements by applying a proposed theory, Vasquez explained.

“We use the fun theory to get more people to be happy about work… it builds community and gets more people to come to the real workshops,” said Vasquez. 

This was their first time doing a chili-cook-off. In the spring, they hosted a salsa competition, which gained a lot of popularity and participation and since the weather in the fall is less warm than the spring, Beilman thought to herself, what could be better than chili. 

The competition consisted of seven competitors, all with different versions and fusions of chili. Competitors ranged from instructors to faculty employees. 

Jim Elton, a Kinesiology instructor, brought his “Halloween chili” to stir up the competition. When he was told about the competition, he prepared to heat up his infamous chili. 

“I always make chili at Halloween time, it’s never the same and always better after you freeze it,” Elton said. 

With his Halloween chili, he did not have high hopes of winning. 

“Everyone’s taste is different, so it’s not a competition and that’s not why I’m here. I just want to share my chili,” Elton said.

On the other hand, returning champion Elena Santa Cruz showed up to defend her title. Her newest specialty was a spicy chili, made with bison meat. 

 “I wanted to be different and when I visited Atlanta, I tried chili like this and loved it,” said Santa Cruz.

The taste testing was open to everyone on campus. Valerie Ruiz and Kaile Garza were walking when Garza’s mom, who is also a faculty member in the Kane building, mentioned that they should stop by the competition. 

“I think it’s a good way to build a community with other people and competitions are always fun,” said Ruiz when talking about how she enjoyed taste testing for the competition.

In the end it was Malcolm Frierson, instructor, who got to take home the chili champion title. 

Frierson is originally from Mississippi, where bold cajun seasoning is popular. He infused the Mississippi flavor into his chili to win over the judges. 

He shares a love for cooking and exclaimed how he was in “disbelief” when he found out he won.

“I put some soul into it,” said Frierson. 

The amazing flavors that cajun cooking brings out is what he believes made him stand out from his competition.