Chili Cook Off 2010 - Bend Oregon

On Saturday The Athletic Club of Bend and Scanlon’s hosted up to 17 restaurants and chefs who cooked up their best chili concoctions. All proceeds donated to the Education Foundation for the Bend La Pine Schools.

Some friends, the Wife, and I made it over to the Athletic Club of Bend for this event and had a great time. After paying the measly $10 per person we were warned to "pace ourselves" but of course I did not. I sampled 16 of the 17 recipes and I really enjoyed about many of them. I applaud all of the restaurants for showing up and helping to raise money for a good foundation.

Jake's had one of the best Pork Verde's amongst the lot. Yeah, Jake's Diner had the best Pork Verde. They also had a sirloin chili that I liked a lot but everyone at our table couldn't stop talking about the verde. Turns out, since he had two, they could only turn in one for judging and it was the verde that went out as their entry.

Zydeco had this white bean and duck ... uh ... stew? I wouldn't classify it as chili but it was very good. They served it with crunchy bread crumbs and topped with crispy duck skin that had been smoked. That skin was insane! So good.

Joolz offered a very unique take on chili and I ended up giving them my vote as my favorite. Elk, chickpeas, a light Feta, tabbouli, and of course...the main attraction of any good chili...Fritos!

I'm joking about Fritos being a key ingredient but damn if I don't love some Chili Cheese Fritos. Not the flavored ones, the plane ones with a scoop of chili over them covered in cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

Pisano's had the most technically sound chili in my mind for a chili competition. No beans, only red sauce and meat. That a boy! He said it was mild but it ended up being one of the spiciest of the bunch. I would gladly have that chili over a dog any day.

Country Catering made a classic chili con carne with smoked brisket and everything was cooked perfectly.

After completely stuffing my face on chili, I passed out on the couch. The Wife made a pot of coffee and then passed out as well while it brewed. Heard one of my friends did the same as soon as he got back to his place. Loved it! What a great Saturday!

Restaurants that participated in the 2010 Chili Throwdown:

Scanlon's - Chef Brad

Zydeco - Chef Steve

28 - Chef Travis

Country Catering - Chef Cody

Joolz - Chef Ramsey

Broken Top - Chef Matt M.

Deschutes Brewery - Chef Matt N.

The Bagel Stop - Chef Dave

Elk Lake Resort - Chef Tony

Jakes Diner - Chef Jim

Parilla Grill - Chef Jeff

Sysco - Chef Kevin

La Rosa - Chef Roberto

El Burrito - Chef Jason

The Oxford - 10 below - Chef Sam

Pisano's - Chef Ed

Lake Creek Lodge - Chef Ann

Deschutes Barrel Aged Tasting AND Upcoming Events

Oh Deschutes Brewery, how I love thee so. Today I received a Tip List of what's going on with Deschutes Brewery in the next couple of months. I also realized that I never got the photos of the last event that I attended, the Barrel Aged Tasting, posted online. For $40 per person you get to sample (all you can drink - please drink responsibly) a variety of beers that have been soaking in bourbon or wine barrels which give them a high class taste. I mean, they can't use a bourbon barrel twice so why not throw some great beer in there and make it even better? I love beer. I love bourbon. Win, win, win.


They also do a great job of making sure you get something to eat. This last time they had a huge variety of mini burgers with a huge selection of buns and toppings. I wish they would have had some recommended combos like "Turtle burger on rye bun with the raspberry ketchup". I'm kidding...they didn't have rye buns.

I selected the rabbit, gator, and venison burgers. When is the next time I'm going to get to try gator? Why not go for it.


I actually didn't care for the gator at all. But the rest of the grub was great. I liked the potato skins. Who doesn't like tater skins?




I absolutely love going to anything at the mountain room. Barrel Aged Tastings, The Crab Boil, and the Beer Dinners (and I also finished at the final table of one of their poker tournaments) are all great. If you never went to any of these, I highly recommend that you budget for it.


Upcoming Deschutes Brewery Events:

1) Breedlove Festival, sponsored by Deschutes Brewery – July 31-Aug. 1. Musical line-up includes Dire Straits’ David Knopfler, Grammy winner Ed Gerhard, and Country/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Chris Hilman, all of whom play Breedlove guitars, which are manufactured in Bend, Oregon.

2) Farmer’s Feast Beer Dinner @ Deschutes Brewery in Bend – August 28th @ 6PM. This beer dinner pairs the freshest ingredients from Central Oregon farms with Deschutes Brewery’s finest beers. Meet the farmers for a journey from till to table. $55/person includes beer and gratuity. RSVP to Winter at 541-385-8606.

3) Friday Farmer’s Market menu special every Friday @ the Bend Pub. Deschutes Brewery chefs walk to the downtown Farmer’s Market every Wednesday to see what’s fresh, and bring it back to the Pub to create a special dish for lunch and dinner on Friday.

4) Oyster Racing Series, sponsored by Deschutes Brewery. Urban Adventure Race coming to a town near you? August 15th = Denver; Aug. 29th = Seattle; Sept. 19th = Portland; Sept. 26 = San Francisco; Oct. 11 = Austin; Oct. 24 = Nashville.

5) Little Woody Barrel Aged Brew Festival in downtown Bend – September 12, noon to 10PM. This festival will feature hand-crafted, wood-aged beer as well as one specialty brew from all of Central Oregon’s seven breweries. Live music, wood carving exhibition and beer tastings, on the lawn of the Deschutes Historical Society on the corner of Wall Street and Idaho. $6/person includes commemorative glass. Tasting package available for $15. Call Cindy Tintle for more information: 541-323-0964.

6) Upcoming Beer Releases: Jubelale (October 1), Hop Trip (October), The Abyss (November)

7) Jubelale release party @ Portland Pub – Oct. 1. Meet the artist who designed the Jubelale label and poster during First Thursday Art Walk at Deschutes Brewery in Portland’s Pearl District.

8) The Abyss 2009 release party in Bend and Portland – November. Exact date and details TBD. Stay tuned!

Deschutes Brewery

Deschutes Brewery doesn't seem to be hurting in this economy. There is always a wait for a table and when I grab a spot at the bar I always end up with some inconsiderate chump rubbing his ass on me. Come on man, I was there first, move over!

Deschutes Brewery, or "the pub" as my friends simply refer to it, has revamped their menu again adding some classics back to it. One such classic has become my new favorite dish at Deschutes. The Cuban Pressed Pulled Pork Sandwich ($10.95). Ham, pulled pork, pickle, swiss, and mustard pressed in a hoagie roll.


Now, this photo was taken the second time that I tried this dish and it wasn't that great. Sloppily put together and only one pickle. The consistency at Deschutes and the price of many of the items get to me sometimes. I mean, $15 for meatloaf, come on! Other than that, I'm a big fan.

The pressed pork sandwich was amazing the first and third time that I had it and I'll continue to order it for a while. It has been a great replacement for my normal French Dip. If nothing on the daily specials menu tickles my fancy, I would normally go with the french dip but not anymore. I'm all ham and pulled pork.

Another favorite of mine is the Brewery Cobb Salad. I like to ask for grilled chicken instead of the cold chicken. But even this salad has it's issues with consistency. Sometimes it comes out looking so pretty. Beautiful avocado, crisp bacon, egg, blue cheese all lined up across the crisp greens just waiting for me to devour them all. And then other times it is slopped together and swimming in dressing.

When the A-team is working the line in the kitchen, the food is definitely worth it but I just wish the prices would come down for us struggling locals. I'm already paying $4.25 a pint.

I pitty the fool that charges high prices! Stay in School. Don't do drugs. Eat Mr. T cereal.


Deschutes Brewery & Public House
1044 Bond Street
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 382-9242