Patti Firment of the Jones County Sheriff’s Department won the prized red-pepper trophy for making the best chili. But green chile; peppers from New Mexico are what gave her dish the spark it needed to win the grand prize in the fifth annual Magnolia State Bank Chili Cook Off.
That secret ingredient helped her win some extra green, too — $1,000 from Magnolia State Bank.
“I can’t believe I won,” she said, smiling and hugging new husband Terry Firment and team leader Sheriff Alex Hodge.
Firment, who is an evidence clerk for the JCSD, didn’t mind giving clues about what set her chili recipe apart from the other 26 teams that battled down to the final bite on Feb. 21.
“New Mexico green chili, fire-roared tomatoes and pork loin,” Firment said. “It was made from scratch.”
All the winners got some extra scratch thanks to sponsor Magnolia State Bank. Second-place team Crossroads Catering got $500 and third-place Creative Computer got $250. Southern Hospitality won the People’s Choice award from the 1,000-plus people who attended and The Spirit Award went to Dunn Roadbuilders. SouthGroup, Chili Chokin’ Pepper Bellies and the Three Amigos rounded out the Top 6, according to the judges’ tastebuds.
“I know everyone can’t win first place with their chili, but the ultimate winner — The City Beautiful, Laurel — is the sole purpose for this and other events held in historic downtown,” Chili Cook Off Chairman Robby Scruggs said. “It’s people like you that are helping Laurel to quicken back to life.”
Scruggs said the 2015 event was the best yet, and Laurel Main Street Executive Director Judi Holifield agreed. There was so much interest, they had to cap the number of entries.
“This is becoming a premiere event for downtown Laurel,” she said. “It was a great day of Southern pride and community spirit.”
And as good as this year’s was, Scruggs said the 2016 will be even better.
“If you thought the wind this weekend almost blew off your feet, just wait until you find out what is going to go down at next year’s Magnolia State Bank’s sixth annual Chili Cook Off.”
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