Inaugural Gay Chili Cook Off - Last Sunday (1/13)

The first-ever Gay Chili Cook Off was hosted at The Bar Lake Worth this past Sunday with overwhelming success.  Raising over $3,000 for the Compass Youth Group, 15 chili contest cooks, 10 drag queens, 5 local gay bars and over 400 community members came together for an afternoon of country music, line dancing, drag shows and fundraising.

"We all set out to raise funds for the Compass Youth Group, but the day was truly a success in more ways than one," said Penny Johnson, co-owner of the lesbian bar, The Bar Lake Worth.  "We have never heard of a Gay Chili cookoff, so we thought it would be fun. This is the first time that all of the bars came together, men and women, to do something great for the community."  Participating gay and lesbian bars included The Mad Hatter Lounge, H.G. Rooster's, Fort Dix and New Moon from Wilton Manors. Everyone who came to the event said they would definitely support the event next year.

Winning Hottest Chili were Elaine Sayward and Michele Sweitzer, Most Unique Chili award went to Anie Velazquez and Best Overall Champion for their Island Chili, Bar Lake Worth owner and event sponsor, Cindi Brunot and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Captain Jen Johnson.

Yours truly, chowing on chilli!

Yours truly with Julie Seaver of Compass.  Thanks to Julie and Penny Johnson, co-owners of The Bar Lake Worth for asking me to be a judge for the event.