Lively Chilifest draws cooks, tasters to Bothell funeral home

Sitting prominently on a shelf in the lobby, a big bottle of Tums greeted visitors, though it is unclear how many of those antacids actually were put to use.

In any case, the second annual Chilifest at Evergreen Washelli at Bothell attracted about 200 enthusiasts who sampled the creations of 18 equally enthusiastic cooks.

Yes, it was, in fact — if you are wondering whether or not you read the above paragraph correctly — a chili cook-off held at a funeral home.

Head of the Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce, as well as community-relations director for Evergreen Washelli, Dale Amundsen said the chamber was looking for a fun event and somehow came up with the idea of launching a chili event at the funeral home.

“We just thought it would be fun and unusual,” Amundsen said.

Certainly, some of the chili chefs got into the spirit of both the evening and the coming holiday.

“It’s Halloween and it’s a chili cook-off at a funeral home,” said Jennifer Paine in explaining why she and partner Julie Cosgrove dressed as witches, complete with tall, pointy hats, to serve up their “It’s Just Wicked” chili.

As were most of the chili chefs, Cosgrove and Paine were representing their business, J2J Creative. The two serve as what they call virtual assistants.

Representing Criterium-Pioli Engineers, Dave Pioli stood by his crock pot with a fire extinguisher in case guests got overheated, though he admitted he hadn’t needed to use said extinguisher. He did claim the numerous firefighters among the crowd were afraid to try his creation.

Pioli won the People’s Choice Award at the inaugural Chilifest last year.

“There were allegations of ballot stuffing,” Pioli said.

Among the visitors, Roger Steinke, youth minister of the nearby First Lutheran Church, had some more serious comments regarding why a funeral home might be a worthy spot for a chili cook-off. He noted that obviously many visits to funeral homes come at some of the saddest and most tragic moments of our lives. With Evergreen Washelli hosting a fun, light-hearted event, they might help prepare those taking part for the more serious events that undoubtedly will bring them back to Washelli’s or someplace similar.

“With a pleasant memory to draw on, maybe they won’t be as unprepared,” Steinke said.

Though the cook-off was mostly for fun according to Amundsen, the event also raised nearly $600 for the local HopeLink. The event was free, but visitors paid $1 for the right to vote for the People’s Choice winner, which this year turned out to be Steve Hofer, operator of Steve’s Cafe on Main Street.

Other winners for such awards as the Burnt Spoon included attorney John Hugg and, in the Mr. Meaty category, Margo Leatham of the Chateau at Bothell Landing, a retirement community.

Overall, Amundsen described the event as a great success, though he noted he was using plenty of air freshener the following day to get rid of the chili smell, as well as calling in an electrician. Even if those Tums didn’t get a lot of use, apparently, all those chili-filled crock pots managed to blow an electronic circuit or two.

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