JD’s Bar and Lounge Chili Cook-Off. {Dan Cook}
When JD’s Bar and Lounge Bar Manager Michael Lombardo asked me to be a guest food judge for their annual chili cook-off on February 16, I immediately said yes!
I love supporting mom-and-pop businesses in my home community, Coral Springs. Being a judge was a no-brainer, and I love a good chili.
I heard through the grapevine this was a fun local event with some excellent home cooks participating.
When I went to JD’s, I was surprised to hear we had to sample 12 chilis. To me, that’s a lot. Thank god I brought some TUMS and a quart of chocolate milk.
The seven judges were a mix of local folks and JD’s Bar and Lounge regulars.
The Rules
It was free, and anyone could enter. You could make any style of chili you wanted. All you had to do was sign up at JD’s Bar and Lounge before the event.
Bar Manager Michael explained: “The rules are simple. You bring in your best chili before 5 o’clock in a crockpot, and that’s it. We anonymously mark them in the back. Nobody knows whose Chili’s who. After all the judging, we announced three winners… after that, everybody gets to eat all the chili.”
The rating system is 1 to 5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best overall taste/flavor. If your vote was close, the judges could retry two chilis at the end.
All scores were added up, and the highest were designated as winners.
The Verdict
First Place:
Vinny Paniccia
$100 gift certificate to JD’s
Second Place
David Phang
$25 gift certificate to JD’s
Third Place
Frank Russo
$15 gift certificate to JD’s
Vinny is the first to win this contest two years in a row. That’s a hell of a job, sir! Vinny won fair and square. My notes read: big pieces of meat with a good spice level and flavor. I gave it a 4 out of 5.
Since I don’t know any other Chili Cook-Offs in Coral Springs, I would have to say Vinny makes THE BEST CHILI IN CORAL SPRINGS, not just in JD’s Bar and Lounge. The contest was legit, and he deserves that title.
The cool part about this event is that everyone could sample all the chilis after the judging. The staff brought hot sauces, rice, crackers, cheese, and chips to accompany the chili samples. It was a lovely touch, and it was free.
The owner, Karen Russo, also said that in the past, they have featured the winning chili on their menu for a year. I would love to see this chili on their menu for everyone to try and judge.
JD’s Bar and Lounge hosts Best of Meatball and Mac and Cheese contests. Check their Facebook Home Page or stop by the bar for more information about upcoming dates.
Final Thoughts
This is just a shout-out to JD’s Bar and Lounge staff, who did an excellent job! The contest was very organized and professionally done. The blind tasting was key to making this an actual Best Of.
Thank you to Karen Russo and Michael Lombardo for allowing me to participate in such a fun event. I love seeing a local mom-and-pop business sponsor/host something interactive, entertaining, and delicious.
Lastly, thank you to everyone who made chili! It’s not easy to be judged on your cooking by strangers, so congratulations to all the contestants.
Please tell Karen, Michael, and Kimberly Lombardo that Dan I Cook and CoralSpringsTalk.com sent you to JD’s Bar and Lounge!
Stay Hungry!
JD’s Bar and Lounge
10311 W Sample Rd
Coral Springs, FL 33065
(954) 752-3227
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