Chilifest a culinary delight for charity
Published 10:26 pm Monday, October 13, 2008
Bothell offers much more than a chili feed Thursday.
“We’re providing Alka-Seltzer, Rolaids and Beano,” says event host Dale Amundsen. “Just bring an appetite.”
The Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce hosts a Second Annual Chilifest.
“The first Chilifest was a roaring success,” says Amundsen, “This one will be indigestively great.”
The event is planned for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Evergreen Washelli’s Bothell funeral home, 18224 103rd Ave. NE in Bothell.
Amundsen is the community relations coordinator for the funeral home and chairman of the Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He says 18 chili chefs from among the chamber’s membership will plug in crock pots of their concoctions.
A panel of local judges will select winners in four categories: “Most Original,” the “Green Bean Award” (vegetarian), “Mr. Meaty” and the “Burnt Spoon Award” (hot).
A “People’s Choice” award will be selected by those who pay a buck per ballot or bring a can or box of food. All money and food donations go to the local HopeLink program. Amundsen says competition for the people’s choice will be stiff — the grand prize is a necklace with a 14-karat gold chili.
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A special dinner is planned Thursday in Arlington.
Members of Post Middle School PTSA know who needs a delicious break.
Debbie Nield, Justina Monty, Sarah Richardson and Denise Ehlis and other members will be cooking Thursday for teachers.
Two years ago, during parent-teacher conferences, the PTSA made a Mexican feast for the first Teacher’s Appreciation dinner for educators who work into the night during conference week.
Thursday at 3 p.m., there will be a turkey dinner with all the trimmings served in the home economics room.
Each teacher gets a handmade invitation and is asked to bring a donation for the Kids’ Kloset, which provides clothes for kids in need.
“Denise is a gourmet cook,” says Justina Monty. “She tells me what to do and we put it together.”
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A tried-and-true idea could make a great fundraiser. Pat Greenstreet has hosted a fun night for ladies called Chick Flicks at her home in Edmonds for four years.
“We started out with 12 members ages 15 to 89,” Greenstreet said. “It’s grown to 25 members.”
They get together and watch mostly classic films featuring women in strong roles. Heroine or villain, they love them all.
A film-night benefit is planned for Team Peggy. Family and friends in Edmonds are rallying around Edmonds City Councilwoman Peggy Pritchard Olson, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in April.
See “State of the Union” at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N. in Edmonds.
Make a donation.
The movie features Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn and national ALS spokeswoman Angela Lansbury.
Film night could be a huge success.
“When it came to hosting an ALS benefit, one of our members suggested that we ‘do what we know.’” Greenstreet said. “Hence, the movie night idea was hatched.”
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Fun Fact: Why go to the trouble of driving to the forest, hunting around, finding specimens, doing a proper identification, packing them, taking them home, scrubbing them, cooking them and eating them.
You can buy mushrooms in little cans at the store.
I’m told it’s much better, and much more fun, to hunt for fungus yourself.
Learn to identify more than 100 different types of fungus at the annual free Fall Mushroom Show. Sponsored by the Snohomish County Mycological Society, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Floral Hall in Forest Park, 802 Mukilteo Blvd. in Everett.
Take an outdoor trip with the club at 9 a.m. Oct. 25 in Everett. For more information, call 425-257-8300.
“There are several varieties of wild mushrooms which grow locally that are highly sought after by gourmets worldwide,” says Dorothy Crossman, who is a novice mushroom hunter. “Indeed, you are certainly missing out on incredible culinary delights when just using canned mushrooms.”
Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.
