Community Corner
Husband and Wife Team Take Top Honors at Sully II Chili Cookoff
Annual community event held in Stone Middle School.
The fourth time turned out to be a winner for a Centreville family who took top prize Saturday night in the 19th annual homemade chili cook-off competition for Sully Station II residents.
Neal Worthy, a United Bank facilities manager, and his wife Bonnie, won an ice-chiller serving tray for their concoction, which they called a “hardy beef” chili. It was a unanimous decision by the Fairfax County Sully District station police officers who served as judges in the competition.
Neal Worthy said he had entered four previous competitions, but this year’s recipe turned out to be the champ. There were no unique ingredients to the smoky flavored, slightly spicy mixture. However, Bonnie said there was one top secret to this winner.
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“I started the chili and took a nap and let him (Neal) have at it,” she said with a laugh.
About a dozen chefs entered the chili contest, which also featured a series of bingo games for residents to win additional prizes.
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The chili cook off/bingo, is a yearly event, sponsored by the social committee and is meant to help chase away winter’s chill, said Eileen Smith, event organizer. About 125 people participated this year at the cafeteria.
Police Lt. Ryan Morgan, one of the judges, said there was no real covert method in judging the chili. “I just love chili and this is great to sample all these different recipes,” he said.
The chili-bingo fest has become a noteworthy annual tradition for the community. The association held the first bingo in 1992.
“It’s great to see all these people here,” said Becky Martin, last year’s winner. “You get to see your neighbors who you haven’t seen in a while, other than to maybe wave at them or see them at the school bus stop. It gives everybody a chance to just catch up.”
Police Lt. John Trace, assistant commander at the Sully District station, said the chili cook off-bingo is the type of event that the officers enjoy attending.
“It’s just great fun,” Trace said. “And it’s great to see this many people come out to an event like this.”
