Chili, Burgers, Crawfish and a Judging Media

This Spicy Houston Cookoff Had It All

By Jailyn Marcel // Mar 5, 2017

Photography Meredith Flaherty Photography

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Steve Hogan, Jeff Cairns, Brian Albrecht, Miguel San Juan, Mary Hogan, Ellen Cairns, Hailey San Juan

Kevin Russell, Shelley Russell, Elizabeth Hayes, Terrence Haggerty, Nicole Gibson

Judges Mike Cortez, Kevin Strickland, Marc de Luna, Jailyn Marcel, Brian Doherty, Cathy Hernandez, Felice Sloan, Paul Miller

Emily Durham, Tami Pearson

Kyle Morrison, Cody Cole, Roger Rule, Sasa Hadzic, Micah Hart, Jason Kirker

AJ Daggett, Joey Anderson, Alex Cernoch, Patrick Morris, Aneil Kochar, Dean Delery

Claire Lensgraf, Sue Carol Thompson, Patty Gorzycki, Kevin Hassenflu, Stephanie Biran

Sonia Quinonez, Julie Waite, and Sharon Finegan

Daniel Dealajandro, Lyall Storandt, Scott McAlpine, Michael Gordon and Joe Huber

Alison and Ryan Murphy, Bruce Kish, Minette Corpuz, Bruce Kish, Xavier Gould-Marks

Trent and Lauren Sims, Katie and Patrick Morris

Kristine Qassom, Kyrre Johansen, Sydney Hansen, Ted Cross, Neal Parisawan and Mary Natoli

Ashley Wood, Tommy Ku, Katie Richardson, Kelley Jamison, Greg Walker, Myself, Crystal Biggs, Jeremy Biggs

Katie Griffin, Marisol Gutierrez, Laurel Thompson, Jodi Gough

"No Cows Were Harmed in the Making of this Chili" sign

Frito Display

What: Casa de Esperanza’s 7th Annual Young Professionals Chili Cook-Off

Where: Kirby Ice House

PC Moment: Clear blue skies and a sunny climate ushered in Casa de Esperanza‘s 7th annual Chili Cook-Off. Five hundred guests packed the spacious outdoor bar Kirby Ice House to watch 40 teams compete for the coveted cook-off title. The electric crowd sampled everything from traditional Texas chili (No beans allowed!) to white chicken renditions, while also enjoying burgers from The Burger Joint and Kirby Icehouse’s spicy crawfish.

PaperCity assistant digital editor Jailyn Marcel helped crown the winning chili alongside seven other judges — food and drink writer Mike Cortez; KPRC Reporter Cathy Hernandez; CultureMap and BravoTV.com contributor Marcy de Luna; Cordúa Restaurants General Manager Brian Doherty; Gr8 Plate Hospitality owner Paul Miller; Felice “Swanky Girl” Sloan, Co-Founder of Urban Swank; and Kevin Strickland, former Owner of Gratifi Kitchen + Bar.

And the winning team is … Other Mothers Brothers, comprised of Cody Cole, Jason Kirker, Kyle Morrison, Roger Rule, Sasa Hadzic, and Scott Rule.

Other Mothers Brothers weren’t the only winners that afternoon. Several guests walked away with over-the-top raffle prizes including two roundtrip domestic airline tickets, a weekend in Fredericksburg, and a complete Rodeo Houston package.

The festive event helped raise a record $70,000 for Casa de Esperanza, which provides a safe space for children abused, neglected, and effected by HIV.

Who: Chairs Katie and Patrick Morris & Lauren and Trent Sims; Host Committee members Blake Aston, Melanie Chin, Mary Katherine and Chris George, Ally Hatz, Bruce and Minette Kish, Christina Mullin, Kim and Derek Myers, Lindsey and Richard Strattan, & Nealy Stuckey; former chairs Katie and Mitchell Currie, Brad Dinerstein, Jaclyn Martin