Brooklyn Ruritan Club Chili Cook-off brings top chefs together

​       Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, left, joined members of the Brooklyn Ruritan Club in serving homemade soups at the first annual chili cook-off and soup supper at the Michael J. Manatt Center on Saturday, March 29.

​By J.O. Parker
 
       There was plenty of good company, good music and some tasty chili recipes from local chefs at the first annual Brooklyn Ruritan Chili Cook-Off and Soup Supper on Saturday, March 29.
      There were 26 chili chefs who participated in the event held at the Michael J. Manatt Community Center.
       There were three categories of chili recipes judged with the following taking top prizes.
Terry Clayton earned top honors in the traditional chili category with his brisket chili.
      Jody Clayton brought home top honors in the spicy chili category with his pork and jalapeno spicy chili.
       And Kim Bauman was the top winner with her white chicken chili recipe that she found in a magazine.
       Judging was done by an independent group of judges.
     “The judges said it was a tough job picking the winners and felt everyone was a winner,” noted Rusty Clayton, with the Brooklyn Ruritan Club, who oversaw the evening’s activities. “It was a great turnout and everybody had a great time.”
      Special guest at the event was Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, who enjoyed meeting and visiting with local residents and tasting chili.
     In addition to the chili, the Ruritan Club members cooked and served homemade vegetable beef, potato and ham and chicken noodle soups at the event topped off with tasty cinnamon rolls.
       When asked if there was anything secret to his success in the traditional chili category, Terry said, “I enjoy cooking for fun and threw some stuff together. It was a nice event.”
      Jody, who has years of experience in the kitchen said the key to his spicy chili was using super tender pork. His recipe consisted of three pounds of pork and five pounds of jalapeno peppers.
      “I like the peppers to stay on the tongue,” he said.
      Jody founded the Classic Deli in June 2012 and owned it until selling in 2019.
      Bauman said she found the recipe for her white chicken chili entry in a magazine.
      “I did tweak it a bit,” she said. “But mostly it follows the original recipe.”
       Bauman said the Ruritan Club was pleased with the turnout.
      The music was provided by Late Shift, a group of mostly school music teachers, noted Bauman.
       “I have had a lot of people ask me for the recipe,” she added.
      The event was a fundraiser for the upcoming Brooklyn 175th Celebration, June 12 – 15. A final tally was not available for this article.
   “The Brooklyn Ruritan Club Chili Cook-off made for great food and even better company,” said Congresswomen Hinson. “I was happy to take part in this fantastic tradition and catch up with constituents over a shared chili supper. Community events like this that bring friends and neighbors together are what make Iowa so great.”

​     Jody Clayton gives thumbs up as Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson presents him with the top winning ribbon for his pork and jalapeno spicy chili entry at the first annual Brooklyn Ruritan Chili Cook-off on March 29.

        Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson presents the winning ribbon to Kim Bauman for her top white chicken chili recipe at the first annual Brooklyn Ruritan Chili Cook-off on March 29.

​       Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson presents the winning ribbon to Terry Clayton for his winning traditional chili entry in the first annual Brooklyn Ruritan Chili Cook-off on March 29.