Tonight the University of Tulsa College of Law, Alumni Relations Committee, held their annual Chilifest Cookoff. 34 teams representing law firms, corporations, government offices, law student organizations, faculty and administration entered an incredible array of chilies. The teams competed in six categories, Best Overall Chili (Res Ipsa Loquitur), Best Traditional Chili - beef with or without beans (Stare Decisis), Best Non-Traditional Chili - other meat, vegetarian, etc. (Inter Alia), Most Creative Recipe (Sui Generis), Best Presentation (Attractive Nuisance) and the Tournament of Champions - pitting past winners against each other. The judges were primarily members of the state and federal judiciary.

The team from my employer went with a Redneck theme.

Our chili was made by my coworker Tony who combined beef brisket, pork and ground beef for an out of this world beanless chili. Besides an incredible flavor, it had a delicious aroma, perfect texture and just the right amount of heat. Click "continue reading" to see how our team fared.

With 34 teams, it was impracticable for each judge to taste each chili. So, the competition was set up for teams of judges to rate 11 or 12 chilies each and then send their highest recommended chilies on the the Appellate Judges who would then determine the winner. Here the judges are being sworn in before the tasting began.

There was pretty huge crowd at the Allen Chapman Activity Center, known on campus as ACAC and affectionately pronounced "ack ack."

Entertainment was provided by a live Mariachi band.

Our team was easy to spot in the crowd.

We won second place for Best Presentation thanks mostly to Ed who, with no prior notice, ad libbed a great tale on stage about our bobcat mascot.

Finally, at the end of the evening out team's chili was announced the winner of the Tournament of Champions! I'm on the left giving Tony his well deserved props. (Click here to see Tony when he won the 2002 Chilifest Cookoff.)