Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com

Photo by Jacqueline Bennett  “Um, it is good” … Gov. Dannel Malloy gives his approval to the chili made by fellow Democrat, Mayor Don Trinks, as the mayor looks on during the 2014 annual Chili Challenge held October 11 in Windsor, Connecticut.

Democrat Governor Dannel Malloy and his GOP opponent in the gubernatorial race, Tom Foley, both made campaign stops Saturday, October 11 at the 2014 Chili Challenge in Windsor, Connecticut. Malloy and Foley are in a neck and neck contest and also face Independent candidate Joe Visconti.

With the November election  mere weeks away, soon enough voters will know who ran on the ‘hottest’, that is the winning ticket. Yes, that is an unabashed chili pun.

“Um, it is good,” Malloy said as he took a bite of the highly recommended chili made by Windsor Mayor Don Trinks, a fellow Democrat and owner/general manager of Bart’s Drive-In Restaurant.

Trinks pulled double chili duty for the annual cook-off, in its 19th year and put on by the Windsor Chamber of Commerce. In addition to preparing his traditional recipe for the Bart’s booth, Trinks teamed up with Carol Engelmann, owner of The Beanery @ Bart’s, to create another selection with a different flavor for the Democrats.

“Carol and I teamed up for a Southwestern Chili at the Dem’s booth,” he noted.

COURTESY PHOTO – From the Windsor Republican’s booth, former state representative Ruth Fahrbach and GOP State Central Committee member Mike McDonald serve up chili to Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley.

Trinks is a previous Chili Challenge title holder, however, this time around it was Windsor Republicans who took 1st Place for Best Chili. Stirring the pot at the GOP booth were former state representative Ruth Fahrbach, town committee vice chairman Cari Turek and Republican State Central Committee member Mike McDonald. The GOP reprised their 2012 Chili Challenge victory after having dropped to third place last year.

Mayor Donald Trinks, Gov. Dannel Malloy, Anita Mips and 7th district senatorial candidate John Foxx.

COURTESY PHOTO Mike McDonald and Tom Foley.

No Windsor Chili Challenge would be complete without the ever creative participation of Enita Jubrey, a multiple trophies winner. Jubrey has competed for 18 years. Collaborating on booth themes with Darci D’Aleo, a 14 year participant, for the second consecutive year

1st Place for Best Chili Windsor GOP. Stirring the pot, Ruth Fahrbach, Cari Turek and and Mike McDonald.

Len Swade and company at the Windsor Democrats booth scooped out a cup of chili for Gov. Dannel Malloy.

they took 1st Place for Best Booth with their “Have Smores Chili” entry, sponsored by D’Aleo Design.

1st Place for Best Booth Enita Jubrey and Darci D’Aleo – whose costumes could be ‘smores’ clever?

And, how do they keep coming up with fresh ideas?

“Enita is the brains behind it,” said D’Aleo.

Bob Houle, a past chairman of the event was roaming the green sampling various submissions.

“This one from the radio league is good, different,” said Houle, referring to the Vintage Radio Museum.

Although the Wilson Fire Department is usually called upon to put out flames, on this day their chili was helping to heat things up. Meanwhile, Paragon Team mentor George Petro noted humorously that the robotics students made their entry with “technological and mathematical precision.”

Abigail Redway and D’Andrea Koduah show the 2014 Chili Challenge t-shirt design.

Bob Houle enjoying the 2014 Chili Challenge.

Carol Engelmann and team at the Bart’s Booth.

Team Paragon.

Wilson Fire Department.

About thirty teams competed, according event organizer, the Empress of Chili, Lori Hartmann. Each year the Chili Challenge is held on the historic Windsor Town Green the Saturday before Columbus Day, with competitors dressing up in costumes to match the theme of their booths. The 2014 presenting sponsor was Windsor Federal Savings.

And the list of winners:

Best Chili: 1-Windsor Republican Town Committee, 2- Carmon Community Funeral Homes,3- Izote, Honorable Mention – Windsor Volunteer Ambulance; Best Booth: 1- D’Aleo Design, 2- Kindred Transitional Health Care, 3-Windsor Jaycees; People’s Choice: 1- Villari’s Martial Arts Center, 2 – Mad Scientist, 3- VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 4740.