Chili rules Virginia City

Chili lovers united Sunday to tanatalize their tastebuds with samples of chili during the 19th annual Cinco De Mayo Chili Cookoff in Virginia City.

Twenty-three booths entered Sunday's amateur competition one day after the International Chili Society handed out their Chili on the Mountain award Saturday.

Rony Huf, 36, of Minden, was decked out in his motorcycle gear and chowing down on a plate of cheese and chili covered tortilla chips. "This is killer," he said.

Huf made the run up to Virginia City specifically to drop some cash on some chili.

"Tyed Dyed and Fryed gets my vote."

Smudge Pot's booth, also known as Tyed Dyed and Fryed, had a seemingly endless line of people sampling their sweet and spicy chili. But that wasn't all this booth was offering. Salsa was on Sunday's menu as well. They were the only competitor in the salsa competition.

For $2 about 200 festivalgoers received a cup in which to sample all 23 chilis, a napkin, spoon and ballots for voting.

"And since everyone thinks Virginia City is corrupt, we are upfront with the fact that you can buy ballots," kidded Chamber of Commerce president and Cookoff coordinator Sandy Olinger. "At 25 cents a piece or five for a dollar, you can stuff the ballot box."

First place received $300, second place $150 and third place $85 in the chili competition. Awards were also given for top salsa with a $75 grandprize and best booth received $100.

Olinger said Sunday's event raised an estimated $4,400 for the Chamber of Commerce.

"Everyone had lots of fun," she said.

CINCO DE MAYO CHILI COOKOFF

3rd Place: Bucket of Blood

2nd Place: Grosh Brother's

1st Place: Chamber of Commerce

Top Salsa: Tyed Dyed and Fryed

Best Booth: Chamber of Commerce

CHILI ON THE MOUNTAIN

-- Best Booth

Third Place: Dione Cooley of Reno

2nd Place: Shirley Judson of Red Bluff, Calif.

1st Place: Geneva Holman of Reno

-- Salsa

3rd Place: Andy White of Loyalton, Calif.

2nd Place: Richard Drum of Carson City

3rd Place: Karen Gaddis of Reno

-- Chili Verde

3rd Place: Voni Medcraft of Reno

2nd Place: Mary Pierczynski of Carson City

1st Place: Shirley Judson Red Bluff California

-- Red Chili

3rd Place: John Jepson of California

2nd Place: Mary Pierczynski of Carson City

1st Place: Shirley Judson of Red Bluff, Calif.