Food, Fun and a Cause

By Cherry Dumaual

NEW FAIRFIELD – It was cold on Saturday, March 28, but inside Pilgrim Hall at the Congregational Church of New Fairfield (CCNF) it was warm and friendly, with a larger crowd than in the past two years gathered to support the increasingly popular Great Mac & Chili Challenge. Hosted by CCNF, the annual event brings the community together for a lively culinary competition — all while raising funds for the Appalachia Service Project, which helps repair homes in Appalachia.

Of course, the cozy atmosphere also came from the simmering pots of hearty chili from eight contestants and the comforting aroma from the mac and cheese trays of five contestants. All 13 New Fairfielders were vying to have their entries in the top three winning spots, based on the votes of community members.

Bringing People Together

I asked CCNF Reverend Elizabeth Yoho, aka Pastor Liz, for the backstory about the challenge. She responded, along with input from her team: Taylor Albert, Stephanie Shaughnessy, Christian Slomba, and Will Anderson.

“We were looking for a fun way to bring people together and raise money for our summer work trip to Appalachia. We thought of an event that would bring the community together in a friendly competition of local cooks. It’s fun to taste the variety of recipes for chili and mac & cheese that our cooks create. The event helps to raise necessary funds to make the trip to Appalachia for volunteers possible. It allows us to get there and back safely, as well as get any necessary supplies.”

Asked about her favorite moments during the event, Pastor Liz said, “It’s fun to see little kids rally together to vote for their favorites, usually their parents. Having an intergenerational event where everyone can have fun is wonderful.”

Local Cooks Step Up

Pat, who has participated for the past three years, entered his New Orleans-inspired chili to support the youth group. When asked what the secret of his recipe was, he replied, “It’s made with love.”

Tracy named his chili “Bambi” because it contains venison from deer he hunted.

Past two-time chili winner Stephanie served up Tailgate Chili, seasoned with Penzeys chili blend. She found the easy, half-hour recipe in the book Pasta for Dummies.

Joe, a two-time mac and cheese winner, entered a cherry pepper mac and cheese dish. Proudly beaming, he said that his son Ezra actively helped prep and cook.

For vegetarians, Dorothy, excited about entering for the first time, offered vegetarian chili. “Vegans can also enjoy it, without adding cheese.”

Tasting and Voting

The time for deliberation came, energizing the crowd and generating a sense of suspense. Attendees judging the entries conceded that it’s tough to be a food critic, especially with so many delicious dishes competing.

Consider a few comments from the crowd:

“So good,” said Grace, a WestConn student, who described her date Henry and herself as serious tasters. They had a tasting chart with the entries — a judging system, so to speak.

“The food is awesome, the event is awesome. I’ve attended many chili contest events, but this is my first for mac and cheese to be part of it,” first-time attendee James remarked.

Danbury high schoolers Natalie and Emery commented with relish, “pretty good.”

And the Winners…

Congratulations to the top three winners!

Mac and cheese:

First: Lisa Clavette

Second: Joe and Ezra Fostano (father and son)

Third: Mark Anderson

Chili:

First: Will Anderson

Second: Tracy Yoho

Third: Jessica Garcia

Cooking for a Cause

Beyond the friendly competition, the evening served a larger purpose — helping fund efforts to make homes “warmer, safer ,and drier” for families in need, a mission Pastor Liz said continues to bring the community together year after year.

With a broad smile, she added at the end of the event, referring to the bigger crowd compared to the past two years, “The word about the Great Mac and Chili Challenge is getting out. Our community members know it’s a fun event, and it’s for a worthwhile cause.”