Akron firefighter Kevin Hagen and his younger brother didn’t know it as they stood behind the long serving table Friday with their fellow competitors, but the people who continually filed into Lock 3 Park for the annual Firefighters Chili Challenge were about to deliver a good sign.
About 12:30 p.m., all of the “2 Brothers Firehouse Chili” they had made the day before was gone.
And there was still an hour to go in the contest.
Even though the big chili pots from two other groups also ran dry before the festivities ended, Hagen and his brother, Marc, who also is an Akron firefighter, were rewarded for their efforts.
Brittany Schmoekel, Akron’s community events coordinator, announced that the firefighting Hagen brothers won the “People’s Choice” award for best-tasting chili at the sixth annual event.
Asked what went into their creation, Marc Hagen gave most of the credit to his older brother and said: “Lots of love.”
Based on the number of $5 tickets purchased at the door, giving each patron four sample-size servings or one bowl, Schmoekel said the crowd numbered at least 500.
The proceeds, about $2,000, Schmoekel estimated, went to the burn unit at Akron Children’s Hospital.
Schmoekel said the “Judges’ Choice” award, voted upon by a panel of area radio personalities, Akron Municipal Judge Jerry Larson and two downtown business executives, went to a white chili creation sponsored by the Summit County Clerk of Courts.
The other four groups participating were from the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau, Akron General Medical Center, FirstMerit Wealth Management and the city’s Engineering Department.
Kevin Hagen said he and his brother were surprised they won.
Hagen said he has been making his famous Firehouse Chili at the station for 19 years and that he entered this year’s event for the first time at the urging of Deputy Chief Dale Evans.
“We were happy to help out, and we were glad the people liked it,” he said.
“We were surprised. We didn’t go out there looking to win any awards. We just had a good time doing it. But everybody’s already telling me we might have to come back next year to defend our title,” Hagen said.
The winning ingredients in his Firehouse Chili, he said, are ground beef, spicy tomato juice, hot chili beans, kidney beans, canned and diced spicy tomatoes, chili seasoning packets, chili spice from Penzeys in Cleveland and a couple of cans of black beans.
Corn bread, Hagen said, is a great side dish.
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or at emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.