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<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Sometimes, it all boils down to a single vote.</p><p>That was the case for one lucky dish and its maker Saturday, as a tie-breaking vote crowned the chili champion at the first annual Chili Cook-off held at the Kingston VFW Post 283.</p><p>Patrons took turns walking alongside rows of tables lined with 12 different types of homemade chili, scooping samples into cups and tasting for not only the best creation, but the hottest as well. Post Commander Terry Acker said he and other members decided on a cook-off as a way to attract potential members and give back to local veterans organizations in need. While Acker wasn&#8217;t exactly sure which organization would see the funds, he would like to see proceeds go to Veterans Affairs, the Wounded Warriors, AmVets or a group like that.</p><p>&#8220;We just thought it&#8217;d be a good idea just to try it. It&#8217;s the going thing,&#8221; he said of the meat and tomato-filled dish.</p><p>Acker&#8217;s plan would not only involve his VFW, but those within the entire district. Each post can choose to hold their own cook-off, with the winners from each advancing into a district competition. Post winners would then cook against each other for the chance to take home trophies, bragging rights and more.</p><p>The top three chili cookers at Saturday&#8217;s event got medals, and the person who made the hottest chili earned a special trophy in the shape of a toilet. The cook-off was open to both post members and the general public. By 3 p.m., Acker said the group had already exceeded its monetary expectations, with the event drawing a steady flow of customers.</p><p><strong>And the winner is &#8230;</strong></p><p>Walking around from pot to pot, Mike Lunney took his time sampling the varieties of chili with his wife, Jessika, beside him. While Jessika admitted she was not the biggest chili fan, Mike happily jumped from trying more traditional-style chili to spicy hot and even chili made from venison.</p><p>&#8220;Number 10 has a bite to it. Number 3 has sausage I think. And number 1, it&#8217;s you&#8217;re more traditional,&#8221; he said of the competitors. &#8220;It&#8217;s really good.&#8221;</p><p>After patrons were done sampling the chili, they were able to cast their votes for their favorites. Many judges stayed to talk about different flavors and recipes as they enjoyed some homemade cornbread, trying to pinpoint specific ingredients in each pot.</p><p>As the votes were tallied, Acker was told there was a problem &#8212; there was a tie! Quickly, he and other members scoured for someone who had yet to taste the chili.</p><p>Minutes later, they returned with Jessika.</p><p>Taking a scoop from Pot No. 4 and Pot No. 9, Jessika took a minute before pointing to No. 4 as her favorite, deeming it the winner and appeasing many onlookers who agreed with her choice.</p><p>That gave the best chili title to Nanticoke resident Laura Keener, who happily accepted her medal and revealed her secret ingredient.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s winter and we needed something fun to do,&#8221; she said, adding she was persuaded to enter by a friend. &#8220;It&#8217;s just a dash (of cinnamon) &#8212; that&#8217;s the magic touch.&#8221;</p><p>Peter Gouleston, Pot No. 7, took home third place; Andy Mudlock earned second place for No. 9; and Acker himself earned the toilet trophy for the hottest bowl of chili, Pot No. 10.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Ann Horridge samples chili at the Kingston VFW Post Chili Cook-off on Saturday. Guests voted for their favorite chili among 12 entries. Laura Keener, of Nanticoke, was declared the winner. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_TTL012118Chili-cook1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Ann Horridge samples chili at the Kingston VFW Post Chili Cook-off on Saturday. Guests voted for their favorite chili among 12 entries. Laura Keener, of Nanticoke, was declared the winner. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_TTL012118Chili-cook2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Attendees sample chili at the Kingston VFW Post Chili Cook-off on Saturday. The makers of the top 3 chili dishes received medals. The maker of the hottest chili received a special toilet trophy. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_TTL012118Chili-cook2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Attendees sample chili at the Kingston VFW Post Chili Cook-off on Saturday. The makers of the top 3 chili dishes received medals. The maker of the hottest chili received a special toilet trophy. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Chili Cook-off draws crowd in Kingston