FLAME ON
The San Jose California Highway Patrol won a hotly-contested battle between local law enforcement agencies for the best chili in Gilroy last weekend. The event’s second year drew a range of chilis from sweet and meaty to muy caliente and hot as hell. The Gilroy/Hollister CHP office took second place and the Hollister Fire Department took third. Judges included Mayor Roland Velasco and the owners of the Milias Restaurant, Old City Hall and Sandy’s Cafe, Adam Sanchez, Fran Beaudet and Sandy Moretti, respectively.
The People’s Choice award went to the Gilroy Fire Department. The Dispatch’s opinion is that this year’s recipes were spicier and more adventurous than the event’s debut a year ago. CHP Sgt. Chris Micelli put in months of hard work to make it happen and the money raised went to Operation Freedom Paws.
Pictured, Chili 1: Gilroy Fire officers Bernhard Szilagy, left, and Steven Hayes served up the flames.
Chili 2: CHP officer Steve Parra won’t give us his secret recipe, but it was blazing hot and flavorful. He retires in December. Maybe he can start a restaurant?
