Event dedicated to founder’s life
CHALK HILL – This year’s seventh annual Chili Cook-off and Mountain Harvest Festival will take on a different flavor. Held at the Christian W. Klay Winery in Chalk Hill from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 25, it will be dedicated to the memory of Andrew Broderick.
“The festival became an area tradition because of the fine work of Laurie Tallant and Andrew Broderick,” said Sharon Klay, president, chief winemaker and spokesman for the winery that host the affair.
“This past year Andrew Broderick died, and we are dedicating this year’s event to him,” she said.
Tallant and Broderick were good friends, both from the Washington, D.C., area, and were the guiding force behind the initial success of the Chili Cook-off.
“Andrew loved chili, and it showed,” Klay said. “He won the cooking contest three years in a row and then retired because he didn’t think it would be fair to the other competitors, especially the young cooks.”
Tallant and Klay continued their affiliation following Broderick’s death.
“Laurie and I partnered up for the festival,” she said. “She handles all the arrangements for all the chili cooks, restaurants and judges. She really does so much.”
Broderick will not be forgotten.
“We really appreciate Andrew’s contribution and dedication to the overall success of this event,” concluded Klay in a recent press release about the upcoming event.