MARY ESTHER — Children craned their necks and pulled on their parents’ hands as they tried to get a glance at one particular table at Santa Rosa Mall on Saturday.
Beauty and the Beast sat at a table set with fine china, candles and, of course, a rose — at least when they weren’t posing for photos with passers-by.
Coastal Bank and Trust’s “Be Our Guest, Put the Chili to the Test” booth was one of 10 at the 23rd annual Corporate Team Challenge Chili Competition.
Business sponsors raised money for United Way agencies by selling samples of their chili to visitors. They also competed for Best Chili, Booth Showmanship and People’s Choice awards, which could bring extra prize money for their community organization.
View a photo gallery from the competition >>
The Aktion Club’s chili had been cooking since 8:30 a.m. with a very special ingredient — gunpowder chili mix. By combining it with their carefully researched recipe, they were sure to win, said Judy Boudreaux, the Aktion Club’s coordinator in Niceville.
“The people in Texas do not have beans (in their chili),” Boudreaux said. “I’m sorry. The people in the South have beans.”
The event was a great way for Aktion Club’s members to repay the community by raising money for Okaloosa-Walton Child Care Services, she said.
“The community gives to us and we give back,” Boudreaux said.
Tucker Duke’s Lunchbox’s simple recipe was sure to win over the official and community judges, predicted Erin Igram, resource development specialist at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. The competition lets the organization tell its story, Igram said.
“We make a huge difference in children’s lives,” added Paula Andrews, who sits on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs. “We want the opportunity to make the community aware.”