By Emily Bregel
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
Copyright 2006 Chattanooga Publishing Company
Mouths are already in motion in anticipation of Sunday’s fourth annual Firehouse Chili Cook-Off at the Chattanooga Market. Five Chattanooga firehouses will compete in an effort to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
“The firefighters are extremely competitive — beyond competitive,” said Nick Jessen, manager of the market. “They trash-talk beforehand, during the event and afterwards. There’s no shortage of trash-talking.”
This year, the rivalry rages particularly strongly between two past champions: Station 19’s Hook-N-Ladle team, which won two years ago, and Station 10’s Guns N Hoses, which won three years ago.
Capt. Ron Boyd of Hook-N-Ladle says his firehouse’s chili, known as Controlled Burn, cannot be defeated.
“It stands head and shoulders above the crowd. All that other bean soup and stew that everybody else is making won’t stack up against it,” he said.
Fire marshal Craig Haney of Guns N Hoses begs to differ. His station hasn’t participated in the event since its inaugural year, when it took the title. Teammates are calling their return to the competition a “reunion tour.”
“I’m the Michael Jordan of chili,” Haney said. “Michael Jordan retired and came back and won another championship. That’s what I’m gonna do.”
Though Boyd says that Haney’s win a few years ago was a fluke, the fire marshal said his victory over Boyd was fair and decisive.
“I spanked him like you spank a baby,” Haney said.
Haney did express some concern over the competition from Station 14 in St. Elmo, a first-time participant in the cook-off.
“They’ve got some good cooks down there,” he said.
Lt. Nate Middlebrooks of Station 14’s team, St. Elmo’s Fire, said he’s confident his team’s recipe, Red Hot Satisfaction, can compete with the veterans of the cook-off.
“It’s kind of a sexy chili,” he said. “It’s got the bite of a mother’s love, but it’s got the warmth of a grandmother’s love.”
This year, judges will award two trophies: a people’s choice, decided by the votes of attendees, and the chef’s choice, which will be the result of a blind taste test done by five chefs.
Boyd said it’s about time the competition awarded a trophy based solely on cooking skills and not how many votes their competitors can garner from their friends. He alleged that last year’s champion, 25 Cadets and a Kettle, won only because the firefighters brought all of their extended families to vote without even tasting the chili.
“It’s not just a popularity contest this year,” Boyd said.
Haney said Boyd should quit his complaining.
“You know, I think it’s gonna be funny, because I’m gonna win ‘em both and there’s nothing he can say.”
At least all the competitors agree on the worthiness of the cause. Money raised will go toward wheelchair repairs and kids summer camps provided by MDA. The cost is $5 to taste the chili and cast a vote.
“We’re humbly just trying to compete, working toward a good cause,” Middlebrooks said.
Sunday’s market also will feature music by Blue Mother Tupelo and Earthbound, as well as displays of the city’s new fireboat and an antique 1960s engine.
In the kids’ interactive area, young attendees can try on firefighting clothes and hook a real fire hose up to a fire hydrant.
“Just come out for the event and make your donation and have a good time,” Boyd said.