Chocolate chip chili and dirty feet make a spicy Labor Day festival
JULIE PHILLIPS
Staff Writer
Flip-flops were definitely a bad idea. However, this tank top surely was going to pay for itself while enduring the weekend heat wave.
If you arrived at the annual Kiwanis Club Malibu Chili Cook-off for the first time, you would not know what to expect coming through the chain-link fence entrance.
The usual plan was to see celebrities (Mischa Barton was spotted among others last year), enjoy some chili, loose some money on carnival games, and hopefully, not get horrendous tan lines. Before being able to walk wide-eyed down the aisles, a $10 admission must be paid.
The best part of the event is that a majority of the proceeds go to the Malibu Kiwanis Club. Kiwanis International, “through guidance and example, works to develop future generations of leaders. Every day, Kiwanians are revitalizing neighborhoods, organizing youth-sports programs, tutoring, building playgrounds, and performing countless other projects to help children and communities,” according to their website.
The range of the retail booths was very impressive. Starbucks was giving out free Pumpkin Spice Frapuccinos, radio station Jack 93.1, the Malibu Republicans Club and Malibu Democrats Club all had a presence.
The Malibu Celebration of Film Festival had a booth advertising their annual event, which will be Sept. 28-30. There was everything from trendy clothing, handmade jewelry, tie-dyed outfits, to pet wear and a display of a floating bed. Sophomore Lauren Aldrich agreed, “There was such a diverse selection of booths offered throughout the event. You could check out the designs of a local artist under one tent, sample homemade chili at the next and even send a letter to the troops in Iraq at another.”
Sophomore Jennifer Jones “enjoyed the variety of the retail and food booths. There really is something for everyone.”
At the end of the retail booths came the dual-aisled silent auction tent. Autographed items included Rolling Stones and Jack Johnson guitars, “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The Simpson’s” framed pictures, Anaheim Ducks, David Beckham and Lakers jerseys, a Bill and Hillary Clinton framed picture, and many more.
In addition, there were vacations, bottles of wine, artwork, and special clothing items.
“I loved how local celebrities put their fame aside and donated to the cause or offered valuable items to the amazing selection of the Cook-off’s silent auction,” said Aldrich.
Then came the main event — chili time. There were fewer booths than past years but the quality and diversity was still superb. Casa Escobar, Malibu Rugby Club, Malibu Presbyterian Church, and Olivet Foursquare Church were among the seven sponsors of the chili creators. After purchasing food tickets for $1-a-piece, taste buds were readied for intense heat, spiciness, and powerful flavor.
Some booths offered a vegetarian option, some chili was thick, some was too spicy, and some was just plain intriguing.
The Malibu Rugby Club created a chili with melted chocolate chips and figs without loosing the spice and texture of your “normal” chili. The combination left your mouth trying to determine if it was sweet or spicy, or if it tasted more like chocolate or chili. Either way, it was quite delectable and was certainly deserving of a People’s Choice Award for the day.
“The ‘Chocolate Chip Chili’ was my favorite,” Jones said.
Although there were no Pepperdine students running chili booths this year, the university’s presence was still felt. There were numerous students walking around the fair enjoying cold treats and listening to the live music.
“Zuma,” a band of Malibu High School students, was the first to take the stage. The female lead singer had a soulful voice that was backed by a talented four-piece band. They definitely set the atmosphere for a Rock & Roll time.
Last stop: carnival rides. It might not compare to the size of the Orange County or Los Angeles Fairs but Malibu held its own by bringing in a Ferris wheel, a fun house, a haunted house, “The Zipper,” a zero-gravity ride, and young children’s rides among the carnie-run tent games.
Senior Anthony Kennada spent the day at the Cook-off with his little sister Kailyn, 4. Anthony’s favorite part of this annual event “is getting to watch Kailyn have fun on the rides and checking out the local performers.”
Along the two rows of rides and games is where we finally stumbled across some celebrities. Dylan and Cole Sprouse of Disney Channel’s “The Suite Life of Zach and Cody” were standing in front of the ominous looking ride, “The Zipper.” “Really exciting because my little sister and the kids I babysit are huge fans of the show,” said Jones of meeting the twins.
Goals accomplished and quickly getting more and more overheated, we decided to finally call it a day. After exploring the Cook-off myself, I can tell why it is such a popular event. People journey from all over the area to enjoy a day tasting chili and experiencing the local culture.
“I think it’s great that Malibu can come together as a community and give to such a great cause,” said Kennada.
09-06-2007