Central Texas Tolbert Chili Group

     Welcome!  Come on in and look around!

     Stay for a spell - there's a lot to see!

     About 20 of the Usual Suspects showed up at Cedar Hall out in Lockhart last Saturday for a bit of a meeting.

    This past year has been tough to get through, and with each and every cookoff it seems that we found out once again, just how big BB's shoes really are to fill.    We've come to the conclusion that contrary to how BB did it, one man cannot do it all. 

     There has to be a designated chairman for each scheduled chili cookoff.  That designated chairman is responsible for contacting the venue to verify the event and to make sure that the venue is taking care of promotion.  Trophy discussions will take place.   The designated chairman will also be responsible for verifying that an adequate supply of Tolbert-sanctioned entry forms, chili and showmanship judging sheets, and an official winners recap form are available for use on the date of the cookoff.  

    Each cookoff also needs a head referee to oversee the judging process and conduct run-offs in the event of tied scores.

     And, last but not least there needs to be a secretary.  Not just someone yanked out of the crowd that just happens to have a scrap of paper and an ink pen.   It has to be someone armed with a clipboard, the recap form and the promise to fill out, in full, the official winners list.   Ultimately, the designated chairman is responsible to see to it that the winners recap sheet, together with the event entry forms are transmitted (electronically via internet or by good ol' US Post Office) to the folks keeping track in the Tolbert organization.   ASAP.   It does not need to be fancy typed and formatted stuff either.   However, we really, really, REALLY appreciate legible handwriting.

     Different cookoffs and their individual demands were discussed and some assignments were made.  You folks that have already stepped up to the plate - we can't thank you enough.   You Rock!   However, we're still going to need volunteers at all the cookoffs down the road.  Tables will always need setting, monitoring and clearing.  Cups will still need numbering, and beverages will still need pulling.   So, as you can see, there will be lots and lots of opportunities.  And, good gravy!  Don't be afraid to ask if we need a hand!

     One of the biggest on going needs we have is for you folks to volunteer for preliminary chili judging.   Who better to cull out the bad stuff than the folks that made it?   Who knows more about competition chili than competition chili cooks?   Why risk your perfect pot of red to John Q Citizen who wants to know why we don't put beans in our chili?   Think about it.  Next time, if you can, please sign up to judge prelims.   Shoot!  We'll even buy you a beer!

     Not being contrary to the above, if you are a new cook, believe us when we say that by the end of your first chili judging experience, you will have learned a lot about chili.  The good and the bad.   Information you will use down the road. 

     It's official now - as soon as our current supply of judging cups is exhausted we will start using the new CTTCG standard issue cups - the short, squatty 16 oz version.   It holds the same volume as the tall cup but has better stability and don't seem to have the bleed-through problems either.  With just a couple of exceptions, CTTCG will provide all of the chili judging cups for upcoming cookoffs. 

     Something else we touched on.  Money.  What we had last year and what we've got this year is a whole nother story.   We know that the holidays had a pretty big impact on all of us, but we gotta get out there and support these cookoffs.   Attendance has been pretty sketchy of late.  

     On that note we're gonna remind you about this weekend's cookoff.   It's the Old Schoolhouse Chili & BBQ Cookoff at the Red Rock Community Center.  With proceeds dedicated to the Red Rock Community Center and ALS, it's a brand new cookoff being hosted by one of our very own Texas Martini Girls, Debbi Tucker.  She always runs a great cookoff, comes up with something different (Hot Toddies!) every time, and she manages to have some of the coolest trophies you'll see on the chili circuit!    Come on out - you'll be glad you did! 

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     March.  It's not too early to talk about March, and believe me - there's a lot to talk about!  

     On Friday, March 2nd, the day before the Tolbert Men's State, in Maxdale, starting promptly at 1:00 p.m. will be the annual Tolbert Planning Meeting.  This meeting covers a lot of information and committees are selected to plan and carry out this year's 46th Annual Championship cookoff Behind the Store in Terlingua.  Everyone is welcome to sit in.

     March 3rd, also in Maxdale will be the Tolbert Men's State Chili Championship.  This championship has had a couple of multiple time winners (Tommy Bennett 1998, 2000 and 2007; and Ted Hume 1997 and 2001), but it has never had a back-to-back champion.  Jimmy Smith of Harker Heights will be not only defending his title, he'll be trying to break the jinx.  Early registration is encouraged by February 17th to ensure the cooks being gifted with the correct size event T-shirt.  A printable entry form has been posted on the What's Coming Up page for your use.   

     Following Men's State, on Sunday, March 4th, also in Maxdale will be the Brazilian Open.  It is the trailing event of a long weekend with a Noon turn-in. With it being a chili only competition, cooks are generally packed up, loaded and on the road by 1:30 p.m., trophies in hand.

    March 17th is the Al Hopkins-Tolbert Texas State Open Chili Championship.  Talk about some bragging rights!  Dwight has been working with the Lockhart Chamber of Commerce to make this year's Texas State bigger and better than ever!   They're signing up vendors and family activities are being worked out.  Let's keep our fingers crossed for some nice spring-time weather having settled in by then.  Tabitha Williams is the defending champion for this event.

     Brand new this year will be the Mud Dauber Festival and Chili Cookoff being held March 24th in Luckenbach, Texas.  Yep, the Red is Returning to the Bach!  Benefiting ALS, details are posted on the Luckenbach website.  There are still some glitches in their reservation system and once they have it worked out we will post a link here.  Not your mother's cookoff, this brand new event promises to be a lot of fun.  Right smack dab in the middle of all the other things Luckenbach has planned for the Mud Dauber Fest (...like Chicken Shit Bingo), we're going to be the center of attention for an anticipated crowd of 2000!  Cooks of all levels and show teams of all sizes are encouraged to participate in this brand new cookoff. Keep an eye on the What's Coming Up page for details as they unfold.   

     One thing you do need to know about the Luckenbach cookoff is that there will be a People's Choice category.  If you decide to participate in this People's Choice, you will need to bring extra chili, and it does not necessarily have to be of the competition variety either.  Luckenbach will be selling tasting kits to the public with special cups, spoons and bibs as well as tokens of some sort.  Cooks participating in the People's Choice will collect those tokens and at the end of the day the most tokens wins a cool prize.

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     Debbi Tucker and Janet Matthews of Martini Girl fame are planning a big ALS fund raising stunt for this coming October. 

      At the moment it's kind of hush-hush, so "stay tuned" for more info!

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Click anywhere on the photo for an email form to attach jpegs to.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2011 WORLD CHAMP!

George Odom

of Manchaca, Texas

He's one of ours!

The Central Texas Tolbert Chili Group didn't stop there either! Four of the top ten chili (indeed, 12 out of 20), and six of the nine show trophies were presented to some of our Usual Suspects as well! Yeah Us! We Rock - Literally!

2011 Ladies State ChampionJill Burrows of Lockhart, Texas2011 Tolbert Men's State ChampionJimmy Smith of Harker Heights, Texas 2011 Texas State WinnerTabitha Williams of Luling, Texas 

Did you see the new banner we're hanging these days?

Cool, huh?

Who We Are

Mike "BB" Hughes & Dwight Hamilton, BFF

A group of friends who just happen to cook award winning chili and BBQ while we raise awareness and funds for some mighty worthy causes.

It's me - Laury McCulloughI'm your webmaster and always available atchili.reporter@yahoo.com

What We Do

Well, that's simple.  We cook and promote the Official State Dish of Texas:  Chili. 

We host over 30 chili events per year at a variety of locations, including the Al Hopkins Tolbert Texas State Chili Championship in Lockhart.  

Why We Do It

Aside from having a lot of fun, we support a long and varied list of charitable causes like Phone Cards for the Troops, the VFW Scholarship Fund, Special Olympics, and Breast Cancer resources to list just a few.    Check the Where We've Been and Why We Do It  page for beneficiary details for some of the cookoffs.

When We Do It

Most every weekend!  Be sure to check the What's Coming Up page for the details on this week's cookoff!

Where We Do It

All over Central Texas!  For most events we will have a map and/or directions on how to get to the various locations on the Map Page to help you out.