Chili Cook-Off Heats Up at Taste of Reston

Though the field of chili cook-off contenders was smaller this year, the two “Guns” teams brought their best chili to the table for the Second Annual Guns 'n Hoses Chili Cook-off on Saturday afternoon at the Taste of Reston.

Last year’s winner’s Crime Scene Section returned to the contest and dished out their “Reaper’s Stew” with sides of corn bread or Fritos and the option of cheese.

Derek Hardy said that the secret to their chili was “hard work, blood and sweat” and their booth looked like that was accurate. Hardy and his partner Erika Slaight played up the Crime Scene theme with caution tape, “blood” smears and a chalk outline on the sidewalk.

Next door was the festive all-American booth of the challenger, The Chili Department. Led by new Reston District Station Commander Andre Tibbs, the Chili Department's  chili, aka “Reston Road Kill Chili”, took three days of slow simmering to prepare. They served over  11 gallons of chili  with corn chips.

Both booths were offering servings to the very last minute of the popular vote. The casual poll on the street had both teams dead even.

Gail Pennybacker (WJLA-7 reporter), an anonymous citizen judge, and Carl Pletzke of the Reston First Responders Committee had the task of choosing the Overall Best Chili.  They deliberated for over half an hour. With great fanfare, they announced that, once again, Crime Scene Section with “Reaper’s Stew” was the winner.

Pennybacker said that the voting was close with only one point separating the two contenders.

In fact, the People’s Choice was The Chili Department with “Reston Road Kill Chili."

Not only does the Crime Scene team get bragging rights for their chili accomplishment, the Overall Best Chili team received a Reston Town Center gift certificate for $500.

“We do it for the cause,” said Captain Andre Tibbs of Reston District Station.  His Chili Department team included Asst. Commander Thomas Roger and Susan Tibbs.

Proceeds from the chili sales at the Taste of Reston will benefit the work and efforts of the  First Responders Committee, a partnership of the companies in and around the the Reston Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), the Fairfax County Police Department and the Fairfax County Fire Department.