Hot and spicy: Annual Dearborn Heights chili cookoff raises money for burn camp

By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers

HEIGHTS – Warm sun, hot chili and a welcoming atmosphere permeated  the Dearborn Heights firefighters’ annual chili cookoff Sept. 12 at Parkland Park, a burn camp fundraiser. 

Burn camps are a no-cost, judgement-free zone for children and teens who have survived severe burn injuries, letting them heal emotionally and find a safe community with similarly affected peers. 

Held at Parkland Park, attendees enjoyed live music, raffles, bouncy houses for children, ice cream sundaes, and a delicious variety of chili to savor.

Detroit firefighter Steve Landfair offered his C Shift chili, which he said was based on a family recipe and perfected at his firehouse. 

He said that while he’s attended the chili cook-off in the past, this is the first year he has taken over responsibility for the chili from his father. 

Landfair said his chili contains halal beef, as well as a lot of vegetables and beans. 

“It really gives it a whole lot of flavor, and it’s much fuller in that sense,” he said. “It’s not quite as spicy as I usually like it, because I like a lot of spicy foods, and it’s not as spicy as some of the other contestants, but I think that’s going to make it more appealing to everybody.”

Dearborn Heights City Clerk Lynne Senia, who has attended many chili cook-offs over the years, said that every year they get better. 

“I’m a big chili fan, and I think that comes from my dad,” she said. “That was the only specialty he did, and dad’s chili is the best.”

Dearborn Heights Library Outreach Manager A.J. Wyatt-Moir said the library’s entry was a Texas halal chili with meat and spices, but no beans or vegetables.

“It is a little on the spicy side – we don’t think it is a five-alarm chili – but it does bring a little bit of heat to it,” she said. 

Wyatt-Moir said the recipe won second place a few years ago, but recognition is dependent of the taste preferences of a given year’s judges. 

“This is honestly one of the library’s favorite events,” she said. “It’s a great time, it’s a great cause and great company, so we look forward to doing it every year.” 

Dearborn Heights Library Director Michael McCafferty said he loves chili and enjoys participating every year. 

“This is a good time to do this, it’s a great bunch of people, it’s one of the things I look forward to doing every year, it’s for a good cause, and it’s a good time to just relax and enjoy some chili,” he said. “I love doing it.”

Chili chef and Dearborn Heights native John Eloff was serving up what he has dubbed his “crime scene chili.”

“It is very meat-forward, halal chili,” he said. “It’s delicious, and you don’t get a body like this eating brown rice and vegetables.” 

Dearborn Heights water billing supervisor Rachel LaPointe said she is a casual chili fan. 

“I usually eat it when my husband makes it, but this is the best event of the year because it’s a family-friendly event, you get delicious chili, you take part in fun raffles and get amazing prizes, and most importantly, you’re supporting the firefighters and the kids who go to burn camp,” she said. “There’s nothing better than that, right?”

Her husband Chris LaPointe said his chili is based on his mother’s recipe, and includes corn, which gives it some sweetness and crunch, as well as three different kinds of beans: black, kidney and pinto. 

He said he usually uses ground turkey, especially if it’s on sale, but he’s made it with ground beef or small pieces of sirloin. 

Rachel LaPointe said she thinks the best way to eat chili is with cinnamon rolls, where you put the chili on top of it, which provides sweet and spicy. 

Chili chef Leslie Windless of Dearborn Heights non-profit Thrive by Any Means Necessary said her chili is made with “love and really good meat.”

Her chili featured halal beef, and is on the mild side. 

“We did not go with spicy this year because we wanted to make sure everybody’s taste buds could eat this,” Windless said. “Word is getting around that we won third place last year, and we are aiming for first place this year.”

However, Windless’ hope did not come to fruition this year. 

The winners were: first place – John Eloff; second place – Tom Worthington; and third place – Dalal Koubise.