VIENNA - As the weather turns cooler and heartier food and drinks are enjoyed, a group hopes the community will support SW Resources by enjoying chili and beer.
Chili Dippin' 'n Beer Sippin' will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Parkersburg Country Club. Tickets are $25 per person, who must be at least 21, and are limited to 150 to be sold.
Advanced tickets are available at The Wine Basket, Community Bank and SW Resources.
Article Photos
Photo by Jolene Craig
Inger Mendoza of The Wine Basket in Vienna is shown with samples of beer for the Oct. 21 chili cook-off and beer sampling fundraiser at the Parkersburg Country Club to benefit SW Resources, a nonprofit community-based rehabilitation facility that provides employment and rehabilitation opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The idea for Chili Dippin' 'n Beer Sippin' as opposed to wine came about because beer and chili become more popular as the weather cools, said Inger Mendoza of The Wine Basket of Vienna, which is coordinating the event with Community Bank, a corporate sponsor.
"We wanted to have another fundraiser to benefit SW Resources, but instead of wine we will have beer and chili sampling," Mendoza said.
The event is something different to help SW Resources and provide residents a venue for a good time, said organizing committee member Janelle Dotson.
Residents are encouraged to participate by submitting and providing their own chili in one of six categories, five general categories and a category for professionals only.
The five general categories are: Just the Way You Are for traditional chili, Wild Thing for hot and spicy chili, Another Shade of Pale for white chili, Captain Vegetable for meatless chili and Eat It for nontraditional chili. The category for professional cooks anyone who works in a kitchen or restaurant is Taking Care of Business.
"All of the categories are named for songs," Dotson said. "We are trying to make it fun for everyone."
To participate, the cost is $15 per person for general entries and $20 per person for professional entrants. Each team can include up to two people.
Deadline for entries is Oct. 12 and participation will be limited to the first five entries per category.
"We wish we could allow everyone to participate, but it's just not possible," Mendoza said. "So, we have set a limit to five per category."
The top two winners as chosen by the people's choice vote and judges will be judged for the grand prize. The judges for this final recognition will be Kiki Angelos and Doug Kettleson.
Craft beers available for sampling will include international offerings from Germany and Belgium, local makers and from West Virginia.
West Virginia beers include those from The N.E.T. in Parkersburg and Bridge Brew Works of Fayetteville, W.Va.
"We wanted this event to be fun and show what beers are available, not only from around the world, but also in our back yard," said Rene Imler, owner of The Wine Basket.
Donations to SW Resources, a nonprofit community-based rehabilitation facility that provides employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities, will be accepted at the cook off.
"We are hoping to raise $2,000 with this event," Imler said. "At the end of the year my goal is to be able to write a $5,000 check to SW Resources with the money raised through the chili cook-off and Cause 2 Wine."
Cause 2 Wine in July raised more than $4,000 and had a goal of $3,500.
For more information or to join the chili competition, contact The Wine Basket at 304-580-0097.
