Since graduating in 2011, Chris Ruth (Delta Kappa/Ball State) has been participating in the Northern Kentucky University annual Alumni Chili Cook-off.“While the cook-off is a fun way to see old friends, it definitely has become a serious competition that awards the winner with more than a trophy,” said Ruth. “Those who win retain bragging rights for the following year - a right which is always fully exercised,” he continued.
Is there a secret to coming up with the winning recipe?
“Many alumni have been participating in the cook-off for years, during which time they have perfected their craft,” said Ruth. “For my chili another fellow alumni, Andrew Stewart of Sigma Phi Epsilon and I have been perfecting our recipe for three years. This year, we brought in a third cook, Geoff Lamping. We like to go for a nontraditional tasting chili, and our ingredients reflect that. Among the normal chili ingredients (ground beef and a multitude of diced peppers), we include a pound of bacon and a pound of Italian sausage. Those two things are game changers, and everybody notices the difference. To top off the chili, we include a winter ale. It really pulls all the pieces together,” said Ruth.
This year fellow Theta Chi, Ethan Losier (Iota Tau 2017) took home the Grand Champion title.
“I entered the Chili Cook-Off in order to represent my chapter for Homecoming and I definitely wasn't expecting to win,” said Losier. "I have been doing chili cook-offs for our chapter for Greek Week and Homecoming for the last three semesters. We were getting closer and closer to winning but I didn't think it was possible,” he said.
How did Losier come up with his winning chili recipe?
“The recipe was something my step-father, Bill, and I came up with,” said Losier. “We used the opportunity to have some father-son bonding time as we don't know how much time we have left. My step-father was diagnosed with Cancer in early January and the doctors say it's pretty aggressive,” he continued. “Winning the awards for both the Grand Champion and 1st place of the Student Gold Division were monumental for my father and my fraternity,” said Losier. “I am just glad that I got to spend more time with my dad, working hard on something that produced such success,” he added.
“Losier's being awarded the best tasting chili (which was determined by three chefs from the Cincinnati culinary school) is a remarkable feat,” said Ruth. “The chefs tasted a sample of each of the 60+ candidates, and narrowed the playing field down to six top contenders. Losier and I were both included in the top six. It was hard being disappointed knowing that I lost to a brother,” he said.
This article was posted with written permission from Nancy Curtis, Editor-in-Chief, The Northerner.
Alumni returned to NKU for chili cook-off
By Kelsey Bungenstock/Contributor
In honor of the Homecoming game on Feb. 7, alumni returned to campus, bringing their crock pots and best chili recipes with them.
The 13th annual Alumni Chili Cook Off took place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Bank of Kentucky Center between Norse women’s and men’s basketball games. Students and alumni were given complimentary mugs for taste testing when they first arrived for the competition.
According to Carol Beirne, assistant director of Student and Young Alumni Programs, all 500 mugs were snatched up right away due to the high turnout.
“The Alumni Chili Cook Off has become one of the biggest homecoming traditions,” Beirne said. “We started it 13 years ago and had two different chilis and 20 people, and today we have 35 chilis and 800 people.”
With the large number of attendees, many of the alumni entered in the competition had a lot of guests to dish out their chili creations for. When they were able to take a break from serving the crowd of people, alumni took the chance to catch up with old classmates and professors. Fond stories of the past were in the air, along with the strong aroma of spices, but the real appeal of the cook off seemed to be bringing the past into the present. clientuploads/News 2/LOSIER.jpg
“That’s what keeps NKU going,” Beirne said, regarding alumni connections to the university. “Their involvement, whether as mentors or donors or as help to student groups, is very important to the growth of the student body.”
Jillian Alig, who graduated in 2013, took this ideal to heart and entered the cook-off for the first time this year, with a white chicken chili recipe she perfected for the occasion. Having been a student herself not too long ago, Alig remembered how the Alumni Chili Cook-Off impacted her, and wanted to continue participating even after graduating.
“I had a really good time when I was here last year with everybody so I just wanted to keep participating,” Alig said. “I think it’s nice that we have an event for the alumni on campus, to keep them involved.”
There were several award categories for the different types of participants, including Alumni, Alumni Greek, Faculty/Staff, Community, Student Gold Division and Student Black Division. The most coveted award was recognition as the Grand Champion, determined by the panel of judges from the Midwestern Culinary Institute. The alumni from the Theta Chi fraternity took home the title of Grand Champion, along with the Student Gold Division award.
Along with the awards and the opportunity to watch the big game, the cook off gave alumni the opportunity to revisit their old stomping grounds. While ‘93 graduate Kendra Means was not able to enter the cook off, returning to NKU and seeing old friends and professors meant more to her than an award.
“It’s great to be here and see the excitement that’s still alive at NKU,” Means said. “Now that I’m back, even if it’s just for a day, it feels like I never left.”
To view the original article, visit http://www.thenortherner.com/arts-and-life/2015/02/09/alumni-returned-to-nku-for-chili-cook-off/