Winning chili entry cries ‘fowl’

It was all about the meats at the Clayton Club Saloon March 3 when four VIP judges for the 19th Annual Chili Cookoff took on 17 pots of the tasty stuff, finally narrowing it down to the four best. The competing recipes included every imaginable meat from venison to turkey, and beef tri tip to lamb.

Clayton Club co-owner Steve Barton (left) and Clayton mayor Tuija Catalano presented the $300 first prize and blue ribbon to Joe Orcutt, who was receiving the honors for wife Naomi’s savory pot made with turkey and chicken sausage. Dominic Leonardini walked away with $200 and second place with a combo of pork, lamb and beef. Mike Ghelfi’s brisket recipe took the $100 third place prize. Honorable mentions went to George Robles and Travis Denton.

Other judges were city councilman Jim Diaz, Pioneer publisher Bob Steiner and Clayton police officer Daryl Englund.

Located on historic Main Street in Clayton, the Clayton Club was established in 1873 and is the second oldest continuously operating saloon in California.