The Madison faculty chili cook-off is an annual tradition in which Madison teachers, counselors and administrators alike compete to see who is the chili-cooking champion. The faculty was excited to show off their culinary prowess in the chili cook-off and the accompanying dessert competition after this tradition took a four year break due to COVID-19.
The chili cook-off and dessert competition typically takes place on one of the student holidays after the end of the first quarter. It gives the faculty a chance to relax, have fun and compete before attacking the next quarter of the school year. After a morning full of meetings, the Madison faculty gathered in Warhawk Hall to set up their crockpots and dishes for the competition.
The judges of this year’s cook-off included Student Government Association (SGA) members Laci Nielsen (‘27), James Farrow (‘25), Angelina Chapa (‘24) and Yedda Lee (‘24), as well two “guest” judges, Eben Montaquila, the principal of Flint Hill Elementary School, and Linda Colbert, the Mayor of Vienna.
Once the judges had their final taste test, they announced this year’s chili cook-off winner was history and economics teacher Tracey Jolley. For Jolley, this year was her second time entering the chili cook-off and also her second time winning.
Jolley had never made chili before her first entrance in the faculty chili cook-off in 2017, but with help of Google, Jolley was able to pull off a win despite her inexperience. This year, Jolley was hoping to reclaim her trophy, using the same chili recipe with a few adjustments from her experience. When the judges announced the news of her second victory, Jolley was stunned.
“I was so surprised,” Jolley said. “I truly thought my previous win was a fluke, so when I won again, I was shocked.”
Jolley’s chili, prematurely named “Two for Two” was a classic chili recipe with a black bean base, green peppers, onions, and a few secret ingredients. Along with her winning title, Jolley received a travel mug, a Panera Bread gift card and the coveted chili cook-off trophy passed on every year from champion to champion.
However, Jolley wasn’t the only faculty member going home with a win that day. History teacher Dan Blanchet also received a first place title after winning the chili cook-off dessert competition with his layered banana cream pudding.
“I was completely shocked because it was the easiest, most non-creative recipe possible and somehow people loved it.” Blanchet said, reflecting on his victory.
Believe it or not, Blanchet’s winning pudding recipe came from the side of an instant Jello pudding box and only took four ingredients to make: Jello banana cream instant pudding, vanilla wafers, Cool Whip, and sliced bananas. Despite its simplicity, the dessert still won over the hearts of the judges, showing that dessert doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious.
From Jolley’s inexperience to Blanchet’s simplistic recipe, it seems the underdogs are the true victors in Madison food competitions. But this beloved Madison tradition is more than just a cooking competition. Madison’s Faculty chili cook-off is not about the secret ingredients of the chili, the complexity of the desert or even the tastiness of the winning dishes. This cook-off is a celebration of the Madison community, connecting Madison teachers, counselors, administrators and students in an event to kick-off the second quarter and holiday season.