MANSFIELD — The gray skies and dreary weather couldn’t keep people from enjoying the many varieties of chili and wings during the Shriners Chili & Wing Cook Off and Blues Fest on Saturday.
The third annual event was coordinated by the Mansfield Miracle Mile Business Association and held on the Miracle Mile along Park Avenue West.
“We’ve got a full day lined up of blues music, but more importantly, we have a great nonprofit event for the Shriners Children’s Hospital, and all of the money is staying here locally to benefit the transportation unit, said Mike Miranda, a Shriner and owner of Miracle Mile Motors.
“We take care of a child no matter the parent’s ability to pay, but our closest hospitals are in Erie, Pennsylvania and Cincinnati, Ohio, so the local Mansfield entity takes care of the area children by transporting them to our hospitals, and we take care of the logistics, lodging and food for them, too.”
The chili and wing cook off featured over 20 contestants from three divisions (restaurants, nonprofits and public safety).
Whitney Schluter, owner of Park Ave Pizza and Grill, entered both the chili and wing competition. He made sweet and smoky chili and used an “everything sauce” for the wings.
“We just whipped it together,” he said.
His chili recipe differed a little from last year’s which received third-place honor in the restaurant division. “And that was my first time ever making chili,” he said.
Representing the Mansfield Firefighters IAFF Local 266, Dan Crow and Sam Stahlke entered their gourmet chili in the competition.
Crow said they used ground sirloin and cubed sirloin steaks marinated in annatto oil.
“We also used garbanzo beans because they don’t fall apart and they stay crunchy,” he said.
“All the flavors just blend together and it’s like a symphony in your mouth,” Stahlke added.
The main stage drew performances by the Alter Ego Band, featuring Rollie Harper, the Jimi Vincent Band, Mark May Band, as well as Walk It Off.
The event also featured chili-dog and wing-eating contests.
Lance Carter proudly represented Holiday Inn during the chili-dog eating contest, devouring nine hot dogs in 10 minutes.
“I feel alright now,” he said. “It was getting a little rough there towards the end.”
