Chili Throwdown Raises Funds for Platt Tech Athletic Program

The second annual Platt Tech Chili Throwdown & Craftacular was held at the school on Saturday. Funds raised during the event will support and supplement Platt Tech's athletic program, which suffered a cut in state funding. Chili tasting kits were sold at the door for $5 each.

The majority of funds were raised through Cow-Chip Bingo. A parcel of fenced-in land was divided into 3,000 squares which were sold at $10 a square. As of Friday evening, 2,000 squares were sold. Bessie the cow was led onto the parcel of land Saturday afternoon, she promptly sat down and took a snooze.

The Platt Tech Chili Throwdown is sanctioned by the International Chili Society (ICS) and first place winners of the event are eligible to compete at the World's Championship Chili Cook-off held each year in October.

The cook-off categories included Red Chili, Chili Verde and Salsa. Nick Cowell, a 2009 graduate of Platt Tech, took home first place in the Red Chili category securing him a spot in the World's event and a prize of $1000.

The chili contest offered a restaurant division of which three Milford restaurants competed:  Joey C's Road House & Tex Mex, Stonebridge and SBC.

Winners List:

Red:

1st- Nick Cowell (1st time going to Worlds) ($1000 prize)

2nd- Dave Schulman ($300 prize)

3rd- Jim Heywood ($200 prize)

4th- Mike Michael Freedman

5th (tie) Kevin Politz (Rookie award), Vicki Tankis

Verde:

1st- Darrell Dunnum (1st time going to Worlds) ($500 prize)

2nd- Linda McGrath ($200 prize)

3rd- Mike Scranton ($100 prize)

4th- Dave Schulman

5th (tie)- Roxanne Baleccino, Chris Bucciferro

Salsa:

1st- Jim Heywood ($200 prize)

2nd- Linda McGrath ($100 prize)

3rd- Chris Bucciferro ($50 prize)

4th (tie)- Jack Cowell, Vicki Buma Tankis, Mario Saccoccio

Restaurant Division cook-off winners:

1st- Joey C's Road House & Tex Mex, Milford

2nd- Stonebridge Restaurant, Milford

3rd- Southport Brewing Co, Milford

For more information on ICS visit www.chilicookoff.com