The Weekend: Rockabilly Chili

The annual WMSE Rockabilly Chili Contest offered up some good surprises yesterday. I got to try about a half dozen amazingly different chilis - from chicken masala chili to beef brisket chili - and I liked them. Then the biggest surprise - mad heartburn. Seriously. Heartburn. (Listen body, I'm 28, not 78) Thankfully, The Wicked Hop had a dish of Tums sitting out. I dug in like it was M&Ms. I guess that's a sports related injury in the food contest world.

There were 3 that really stood out to me:
no. 1) The Bel Air Caintina chipotle chili with shoestring tortilla strips and avocado crema
no. 2) The Wicked Hop tomatoey-brisket chili with tons-o-toppings (shot of whiskey optional)
no. 3) Braise Restaurant's bean chili with bacon on top

None of these won the official contest. For those results, go here. Just bring an arsenal of antacids next year if you plan to try the ghost chili pepper chili from Ball 'n Biscuit. Or else.

Milwaukee Faves: Rockabilly Chili Contest

Last Sunday was the 8th Annual WMSE Rockabilly Chili Contest. This was my first time going but it won my heart and is now a solid Milwaukee fave. I did take some pictures, but I won't bore you with my crappy iPhone pictures. These pictures are from Rebecca Gagnon at Cake Walk, a great Wisconsin foodie blog. My pictures will never look as good as hers.


Sidenote: You may be wondering what's up with the stainless-steel cream whipper......that's the avocado sour cream whip that went on top of Roots' vegetarian black bean and sweet potato chili.