Bonita’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Chili Cook-Off and Fair made its return after a year’s hiatus, entertaining guests May 17 at the Bonita Village Shopping Center. The event returned thanks to co-sponsorship from the Bonita Kiwanis Foundation and Bonita Optimist Foundation.
There were a variety of fun activities for all members of the family, including hand-led pony rides, astro-jumps, food and beverage vendors, crafters, law enforcement displays, live musical entertainment — and chili tasting.
Six teams competed for prize money this year. The chili had to be prepared on site in order to qualify for the contest.
The Bonita Optimist team captured the first-place prize of $300. “We got here early and starting cooking when the lot was nice and empty,” said Optimist team member Marlene Polanski. “We had hours of simmering and love.”
The winning recipe included “love and optimism and a few secret spices,” according to team member Luz Aguirre.
Bonita Fire claimed the second-place prize of $200 while teams representing Villa Bonita and Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center split the $100 third-place prize money in a tie. Sharp also won the People’s Choice Award while Perry Plumbing won the prize for best-decorated booth.
The ninth-annual pie-eating contest provided centerpiece entertainment. Kane Parrott of Bonita Vista Middle School won the $50 grand prize after finishing his cherry pie first.
“You’ve just got to go for it and eat in a zigzag pattern like Pac-Man would do,” he said, smiling.
