Every Fall, the Mentor Senior Center hosts a Chili Cook Off where senior service agencies compete for bragging rights for the best chili around! The event is presented in partnership with the Association of Specialists in Aging (ASA). ASA is a networking group of agencies and businesses that promote the well-being of older adults. The ASA meets monthly at the Senior Center, and they help with many other events.
The competition is always fierce at this annual tradition, with chilis ranging from sweet to spicy, beans to no beans, and with various cuts of meat. This year’s judges consisted of City Manager Ken Filipiak, Police Chief Ken Gunsch, Fire Chief Bob Searles, and Assistant City Manager Robert Fowler and they had the very difficult task of declaring a winner. At the end of the day, the runner up was the chili from Governor’s Pointe & Port and the group that took home the coveted chili pepper trophy were the fine folks from Mentor Ridge, which is a health and rehabilitation center located right here in Mentor.
Once the judges had made their decision, it was time for the People’s Choice Award which is voted on by all the patrons of the Cook Off. After sampling the five amazing entries, the people agreed with the esteemed judges and that trophy went to Mentor Ridge as well.
We’d like to thank all of our chefs and organizations that help the Mentor Senior Center put on this fun event and we will see who’s chili reigns supreme in 2024.