By Gary Putnam

The 2026 version of the  Lyon Park Chili Cookoff is now history and for the second year, Susan Demske took home the winner’s ribbon with “Highland Street Heaven Chili”. A very good example of what a bowl of red should look like. Second place went to Marie Edwartoski with “My Best Chili”—mild and sweet with gentle heat. Third: Rhodri Morgan with “The Fighting Irish Chili”-gentle on the classic spices leaving the shredded brisket sweet and mild. Best Vegetarian Chili was Helen White with her punny “Hel Hath No Fury Chili,” which critics said was mild and tasty. Honorable mention—spiciest chili—Phillippe Alepin’s “5-Chile Chili,” a classic bowl of red, properly spiced with vigorous taste and spirit.

The rest, more or less in descending order of votes: The Surendra Family with “Ginger Chili,” a jolt of traditional Indian spices giving a new face to an old friend; Ben Henry’s “Chili Verde”—spicy and surprising in a good way; Trish Montgomery’s “Sweet with Heat”—if you like sweet potatoes, you’ll love this one—the Chiliheads gave thumbs up on this one; The Hawkins Family with “An Exciting and Delightful Chili”—the critics said it could have used more spice—”Like kissing your cousin!: Gary Putnam’s “Dog Breath” was aptly named; Sara Alepin’s “Mole Chili”—the meat was properly cubed rather than ground, nice balance of heat; Lisa Morgan’s “Christmas Eve Chili”—definitely not a typical Bowl of Red—an interesting blend of chopped vegetables with a unique finish; (Anonymous)”Bacon Beef Bean Supreme” was unique, a bit on the thin side with good flavor …but why No Name? It wasn’t THAT bad!; Sara Newman’s “Go Easy Turkey Chili”—mild chili flavors with ground turkey, two kinds of beans and the gentle hint of very very mild chili.

Winners were selected by popular vote of the diners. Evaluation and critiquing of the entries was done by Theo Roiniotis and his assistant, Spiro. Notes were taken by Gary Putnam—badly. None of whom accept responsibility for this, yet another chili culinary travesty. Very little cash was received to influence the voting.