Agent claims title in real estate office chili cook-off

There was just a touch of heat in the winning entry at the chili cook-off last week at the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in Greencastle.

Dave Friedrich said the real secret to his chili is brisket that's smoked nine hours, as well as bacon.

"It's not really that hot. It's more of a smoked flavor, with a little smoked Tabasco in it, too," said Friedrich, the real estate agent whose chili was judged tops among nine entries.

"It's a winner," Friedrich said when asked if this is the recipe he plans to use when he goes up against the winning agents from the Waynesboro and Chambersburg offices for bragging rights and a prize TBA at an event to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities this summer. He'll face Jill Miller from Waynesboro and Kim Capozzi from Chambersburg.

The cook-offs are part of "creating a culture of awesomeness," said Larry Yoder, regional sales director. "We believe in working hard and having fun."

The fun started with the nine chilis served to judges Valerie Meyers of the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce and Greg Hoover of WRGG. Meyers explained they had corn bread muffins to cleanse their palates and refreshing cool water to drink.

"There were nine contributors and coincidentally they built up in heat and from thinner to thicker," Meyers said.

"The tastes were not that far apart, but we were judging on texture and spice and flavor and 'everything nice,' Hoover explained.

Coming in a very close second to Friedrich was Andrew Carbaugh with what he described as "manly chili!" Second-place at the other offices went to Joanne Rook in Waynesboro and Becky Ernest in Chambersburg.