Chilly outside, chili inside

Mary and Jack Bartlett, of International Falls, participate in the annual “Chili Challenge” Saturday as part of the Icebox Days’ celebrations. The Bartletts had to decide between eight choices, including one that was vegetarian and another that featured fruit. Peter Graham VFW Post #2948 won first place and took home a plaque from The Sports Shop. “We’ve wanted to go, but this is the first time we’ve been to one,” Jack Bartlett said of annual event that features both restaurants and home cooks. “We’d been plowing snow today.”Cynthia Warren took second place in the event inspired several years ago by celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s traveling cooking-challenge show, “Throwdown,” said Backus Community Center Executive Director Ward Merrill. She won an original inscribed chili bowl by local college pottery instructor Mark Rooney. Third place was a three-way tie between Almost Lindy’s, Lynda Faith and Bruce and June Wilson, who received Backus sweatshirts as a reward.“It is a good turnout despite the weather,” Mary Bartlett said.

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