Festivals are prevalent in Atlanta. We have festivals for everything.

I, for one, happen to adore festivals. All those fun people, all the fun food and beverages. Maybe even a blue grass band!

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for some chili, in some chilly weather….

I could go for some chili....

THE 32ND ANNUAL GREAT MILLER LITE CHILI COOK-OFF RETURNS TO STONE MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

All Ages are Invited to Enjoy Chili, Live Music, Games and Nonstop Fun

The 32nd annual Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off will once again be held in beautiful Stone Mountain, Ga., where more than 300 culinary teams from across the country battle for chili bragging rights. In addition to sampling chili, Brunswick stew and cornbread, guests of all ages are invited to enjoy live music from some of the nation’s best tribute bands and partake in games such as the Mullet Flop and the Jalapeno Eating contest. As in previous years, 100% of the proceeds will benefit Camp Twin Lakes, a network of camps providing life-changing experiences to thousands of Georgia children with serious illnesses, disabilities and challenges. Since 2005, the Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off has raised more than $380,000 for Camp Twin Lakes. Tickets are $10 for adults. Children 12 and under are free. Tickets can only be purchased on site the day of the event, and will not sell out. For more information, visit www.theatlantachilicookoff.com.

When: Saturday, September 24, 2011
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where: Stone Mountain Park, GA – Coliseum Meadow
1000 Robert E. Lee Dr, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
http://www.stonemountainpark.com/maps-directions/

Cost: $10 for adults; children 12 and under are free.
Tickets must be purchased on site the day of the event and it will not sell out.

Benefiting: 100% of the Proceeds Benefit Camp Twin Lakes
www.camptwinlakes.org

Website: www.theatlantachilicookoff.com

Parking: Each vehicle will be charged $10 for entrance into the park.

Schedule: 10 a.m. Miller Time – Steve Miller Tribute Band
12:15 p.m. MetroPCS Master Hole Hitting Contest
12:30 – 2 p.m. Sex Type Thing – Stone Temple Pilots Tribute Band
2:15 p.m. MetroPCS Jalapeno Eating Contest
2:30 – 4 p.m. ZOSO – The Ultimate Led Zepplin Experience
4:15 p.m. MetroPCS Mullet Flop
4:30 – 6:15 p.m. Free Fallin – A Tribute to Tom Petty
6:30 p.m. 2011 Chili Awards

Sponsors: Miller Lite, Aaron’s Sales and Leasing, Waffle House, Metro PCS, Rock 100.5, Camp Twin Lakes, Caren West PR

Sounds like a spicy day!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Spice Girls – Wannabe

For all of you that do not live in Atlanta, I have to tell you that you missed a great time yesterday in Cabbagetown. Chomp and Stomp is just the southern social event of the year. I rode over early with Crystal and Teague so we could help Miss Lisa set up at her booth. The top was off the jeep and the day was warm and sunny. In November!

We arrived and I helped Miss Lisa with her sign for the day. She decided on selling locally made snap-when-you-bite-them hot dogs and beautiful white bratwurst.

You know what? I have so many photos, I believe I will let them tell most of the story. And away we go!

Miss Lisa's Specials of the Day

Those Gorgeous Brats

Miss Lisa & Mr. Bob Share A Moment

Mr. Bob is a restaurant reviewer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, so we kinda have to hide his face. You would agree his is a great face, if you were to meet him.

There were a slew of celebrity judges on hand to judge the chili (and there was a LOT of chili to judge). There was Kevin Gillespie, of Woodfire Grill , who might very well go all the way on “Top Chef,” Kevin Rathbun, who slew Bobby Flay on “Iron Chef,” Scott Serpas, Shaun Doty , Joe Truex and certainly not least of all, Chef Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman and Finch.  Some fun shots for you:

Chefs Gillespie, Serpas, Doty, Hopkins and Rathbun

Chili to be Judged

Chef Gillespie Takes a Moment for his Fans (me!)

As exciting as mingling with celebrity chefs is, there was also live music and other celebrities as well. Hollis Gillespie (no relation to Kevin, I believe) is a famous author who is about to have her books adapted into a television series. She is seriously hilarious and took a moment to let me be photographed with Lary, her bff and herself.  Go buy one of her books!

Hollis, Me and Lary

And of course, lots of friends and neighbors were there, too.

Leila, Val and Jay

Val, Me, Leila, Miss Crystal

Val and Me Before We Entered the Toilet Plunger Relay Race

Yes, Miss Val and I entered a relay race – I called it the Toilet Plunger Relay, Chomp and Stomp called it the Cornholing Relay Race. One member of the team holds a toilet plunger between their legs and runs to the next member, who is holding a roll of toilet paper between her legs – #1 has to use the plunger to thread the toilet paper onto the handle of the plunger. It was fun. We didn’t win, but we laughed – a lot! Oh, and we had to do it while holding a cabbage on our heads. Pretty!

Now for the main attraction – The Cabbage Shredding Contest.  Our bestie Teague has won this competition 3 years in a row.  First, there were two heats to see who would battle Teague for his crown. Then it was time for Teague to show em how it’s done. Little Michelle handed us her ball point pen and we all wrote a big  “T” on our palms to show our support. Teague was clearly in the lead when all of a sudden, he dropped his cabbage! We all gasped and waited to see what would happen next. Teague, the consummate professional, just popped over the table, grabbed the cabbage core and once again took the crown! We all howled with joy! Wooooooo Hooooo!!! I even got some cool action shots. And I won’t even make you wait to see them.

Teague Was In It To Win It! Look at the Cabbage Flying!

Our King and Queen

As Teague’s motto goes – “Today We Slaw!” and slaw he did. He most certainly did.

Besides cabbage and chili everywhere, there were some other food vendors (besides Miss Lisa and her awesome dogs and brats). Lets take a look, shall we?

Perla, One of Miss Lisa's Coffee Girls

Nobody Can Resist a Corndog!

Funnel Cakes! Fried Dough! Nom, Nom, Nom...

After all our darlings filled up on chili and beer, Pie Queen Crystal and Cabbage King Teague (foodie royalty!) invited us all back to their house for a bonfire.  Miss Lisa was so sweet and gave me a bundle of bratwurst and buns to take to the bonfire and I added some blue corn chips.

Miss Crystal grilled the brats while we all warmed ourselves by the fire. They were insanely tasty and everyone gobbled them up.  Then Becky and Tim introduced us to a twist on an old favorite – ‘smores.  They took two slices of Italian bread, brushed it with olive oil and salt, grilled it, spread it with a nice smear of Nutella, roasted a marshmallow and slipped it between the two pieces of grilled bread. It was heavenly. Tim called it “Italian ‘Smores,” I said it should be called “It’s A’smore.” Whatever you call it, I can tell you what it tastes like. It tastes like you need one more.

"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, It's A'Smore!"

By this time I was pretty beat and ready to hit the sack. Eric and I bundled up and walked home as our shoes crunched the dried, fallen leaves underfoot.

I am going to leave you with a quote from Mr. Tim’s blog :

I hope you live where you love and if you have a longing to be somewhere you’re not I hope you find your way there.

For me, that place is Atlanta.

xoxo, Patti