A fine way to fend off winter’s chill is a bowl of chili.

Or, as was the case at Bethel Park’s inaugural Battle of the Bowls Chili Cook Off, sampling small paper cups’ worth of cooks’ creations.

And while guests of the Feb. 1 event at the Bethel Park Community Center probably enjoyed everything they tasted, one dish ended up topping the field.

“We’ve actually used the recipe with chicken and beef and turkey, and it still works well,” winner Dan Knorr said. “But when competition comes, you go with the brisket, because that’s the best meat.”

His BBQ Brisket Chili – actually, he credits his father, Jim, for the array of ingredients – earned the most votes in a people’s choice competition, earning Dan a gold-painted trophy shaped like a miniature version of a bathroom’s key fixture.

“We started talking earlier that we’d be kind of disappointed if we didn’t at least place because so many people came over saying that they were sent here by other people. So we had an idea that, OK, maybe there’s a chance,” he said following the award presentation. “But you never know.”

The event, dubbed Bourbon, Beans and Vino for the over-21 beverages available to help wash down the featured food, consisted of a dozen and a half two-person teams of chili chefs. Joining Knorr was his wife, Nicole.

“I scooped the chili, so I think my winning personality probably helped,” she said, tongue firmly planted in cheek. “For sure.”

Along with providing a get-together for the weekend between marquee National Football League matchups, the Battle of the Bowls benefited four Bethel Park organizations: the philanthropic community foundation and education foundation, along with the local historical society and public library.

“We raised $6,000 for a first year’s event. I am very happy,” said organizer Andy Amrhein, a community foundational board member.

He and his wife, Mary Moore, represented his business, Evey True Value Hardware, with a corn-containing dish called Chili Con Taco.

“It’s very different from the other recipes here,” Amrhein said. “But it’s by far my favorite.”

Joining him in presenting awards for the top three recipes was library executive director Christine McIntosh.

“As an individual organization, the library can’t do something this large,” she said. “With the four organizations together, we’re able to draw from a bigger audience and also bring the community together.”

Placing second was Cluckin’ Good Chili, from Shannon Villani – Amrhein credited her with the recipe – and her husband, Joe, Bethel Park High School principal and district assistant to the superintendent.

Bethel Park police officers Amber DiFranco and Colby Goodrich came in third with 3302 Chili. According to DiFranco, “3302 is the Pennsylvania Crimes Code for risking catastrophe.”

Assisting with the day’s proceedings were members of the Bethel Park Interact Club, a Rotary-sponsored service group open to high school and Independence Middle School students.

“This is a great event to volunteer for,” senior Sara Impellicceiri said. “We brought water and rolls to the vendors as a simple way to say thank you, since they weren’t able to leave their stations, and just doing anything we could to help them out throughout the day.”

She helped further by drawing the winning number for a 50/50 raffle, and she and her fellow Interact members made sure to sample the chili offerings.

“It was all extremely good,” she said. “I don’t know how people chose a favorite.”

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