Snowy, chili and chocolatey weekend in the valley
By Tom Eastman
CONWAY NH — It was a chili and chocolate weekend in Mount Washington Valley, and a snowy one, too.
Buoyed by the weekend’s snowfall, the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce presented the seventh annual Chilly Chili Cook-Off Saturday, Feb. 27, at Flatbread Company in the Eastern Slope Inn Resort in North Conway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Taking top honors out of the 34 chili entries was the Appalachian Mountain Club Highland Center. The Appalachian Mountain Club’s Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, meanwhile, won top honors in the day’s cornbread contest.
John Vescera of Worcester, Mass., won the individual award, and the Mount Washington Valley Harley Owners Group (HOG) won the People’s Choice award.
The “best presentation” was awarded to Tuckerman’s at the New England Inn.
New to this year’s cook-off were the cornbread and crazy hat competitions, where the Appalachian Mountain Club Highland Center at Crawford Notch again rocked the competition taking home the award for best cornbread. Sarah Goldstein, family member of owners Linda and John Rafferty of Rafferty’s Restaurant and Pub, took home the prize for craziest hat.
A highlight were workers from the AMC Highland Center who hail from Brazil. They wore traditional costumes to add some color to the well-attended proceedings.
“This was the best attended to date. We think we had over 600 attendees,” said Sirri Grubb of the Mount Washington Valley Chamber. Her comments were shared by events manager Mary Seavey of the chamber.
Event sponsors were Eastern Slope Inn Resort, Flatbread Company, Lakes Region Coca-Cola, Sizzlin Sauces LLC, Waste Management and Zeb’s General Store. Other participants were Coldstone Creamery, The Met Coffeehouse and White Mountain Cupcakery, who provided sweet treats.
Frank Hastings of SOUND-FX provided the karaoke entertainment. Judges were Carey-Ann King, Tom Eastman, Trudy Kasianchuk, Richard Mattei, Tim Remillard, Lisa Somerville, Audley Williams, Corinne Whitaker, Carol Craig and Maureen Seavey.
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On Sunday, the Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center held its 21st annual Chocolate Festival, with more than 550 ski tourers, snowshoers and drivers making their way to nine member establishments to sample an array of tasty treats.
The event is held annually as a fund-raiser for the non-profit ski touring association. There had been some question whether the week’s snowstorms and rain would enable the ski touring center to open enough terrain for the day, but crews were able to get the southern part of the network open, according to Cort Hansen of Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring Association. “Overall, we had north of 580 people, and our best year ever was 650, so we were very happy, given the uncertainty of the conditions leading up to the event,” said Hansen Monday. He said the event serves not only as a fund-raiser but as a good marketing tool for the member businesses along the route who open their doors to skiers and drivers. “I tell people that to have 400 people come to their doors is great exposure,” said Hansen.
A shuttle trolley was once again used later in the afternoon to ferry people from stop to stop and back to their cars.
He said the ski touring center will continue to groom Whitaker Woods. “I hate to say it will be day to day but it will be week to week, as it is warm today and it promises to be warm tomorrow [Tuesday],” he said.
For more information, call 356-9920.
Susan said,
August 31, 2010 @ 10:31 am
I am trying to find Carol Craig who moved from western Massachusetts to North Conway, NH where she married about 23 years ago. Her former husband’s name is Steve, and her son’s name is Jesse.