What do you call a group of Elvises and a hunk, a hunk of burning chili? Whatever it is, fools rushed in to taste the chili at the Taste Buds booth during the annual Chili-Cook-Off. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
What do you call a group of Elvises and a hunk, a hunk of burning chili? Whatever it is, fools rushed in to taste the chili at the Taste Buds booth during the annual Chili-Cook-Off. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)

OCEAN BEACH – Thousands of people came out on a sunny Saturday for the OB Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off on June 28, and a good amount of those fest-goers filled their bellies with chili.

After all the tastings were done (and the Tums were taken), the judges announced the results:

Amateur Division

For the Judge’s Choice category, the panel of judges found two amateur chili cookers worthy of top accolades: First place went to Shaka Chili Brah, and second place to Not Joe Mama’s Chili.

The People’s Choice Award, decided by community tasters, went to the following chili teams: First place for California Wild Ales, second place to Grate Full Chili, and third to Kane’s K-9 Animal Rescue.

The coveted OB Spirit Award went to Friends of the Taste Buds.

Restaurant Division

For the Judge’s Choice category in the restaurant division, the esteemed judges decreed that the following chili teams were top tier: First place for Banks the Butcher BBQ, and second place to Wonderland Ocean Pub.

The People’s Choice first-place award, decided by community tasters, went to OB Surf Lodge.

  • Chili-tasters couldn’t help but fall in love with the Friends of the Taste Buds’ chili as the amateur cookers earned the coveted OB Spirit award. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
    Chili-tasters couldn’t help but fall in love with the Friends of the Taste Buds’ chili as the amateur cookers earned the coveted OB Spirit award. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
  • In the Restaurant Division, the judges awarded Wonderland Ocean Pub second place. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
    In the Restaurant Division, the judges awarded Wonderland Ocean Pub second place. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
  • California Wild Ales earned first place in the People’s Choice category. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
    California Wild Ales earned first place in the People’s Choice category. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
  • The OB Brewers Guild booth kept chili-tasters entertained by spinning a wheel for prizes. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
    The OB Brewers Guild booth kept chili-tasters entertained by spinning a wheel for prizes. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
  • In the Amateur Division, Kane’s K-9 Animal Rescue earned a third-place People’s Choice award. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
    In the Amateur Division, Kane’s K-9 Animal Rescue earned a third-place People’s Choice award. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
  • Hot dog chili was a staple for many growing up in the 1970s – a nostalgic twist at the cook-off. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)
    Hot dog chili was a staple for many growing up in the 1970s – a nostalgic twist at the cook-off. (Photo By Thomas Melville/Peninsula Beacon)

Eating Contest winners

In the Dirty Birds’ Wing Eating Contest, Sam Murray, representing Dirty Birds, out-ate the others for the first-place trophy.

The runners-up were Jayci Raine Gibbs, of Connected Life, and Angelo Devlin of the OB Community Foundation.

The top earners (most money raised for charity) were Avery Jacoby, of Dirty Birds, Alison Lyons, of the OB Woman’s Club, and Adi Peron, of Collective 42. Dirty Birds Ocean Beach raised more than $10,000 this year.

To date, the Wing Eating Contest has raised more than $38,000 for OBMA programs, projects, and initiatives.

At the Hodad’s Burger Eating Contest, Justin Uranga outpaced the other contestants to earn the title.