MECHANIC FALLS — The Boghooters Snowmobile Club of Mechanic Falls hosted the 2nd annual Chili & Chowda Cookoff at the Elm Street School recently.

Despite the snow, the crowd at the cook-off was large and the competition fierce. More than 16 professional and amateur chefs competed for the 2011 bragging rights. Daddy O’s of Oxford was there defending their 2010 title for Best Chowda, while newcomers like Bread & More Bakery and Better than Average Jams & Jellies offered their entries.

This year’s winners are:

Best Chowda by a Restaurant/Pro Chef: Fish chowda, Daddy O’s Restaurant, chef Wayne Hanscom

Best Chili by a Restaurant/Pro Chef: Better than Average Jams & Jellies, chef Shannon Bissonette

Best Chowda by a Club/Organization: Seafood chowda, The Oxford Fair, chef Suzanne Grover, served by Rupert Grover

Best Chili by a Club/Organization: Boghoot chili, chef Suzanne Chinnock

Best Chowda by an Amateur Chef: Bacon corn chowda with chicken, amateur chef Lou Goulet

Best Chili by an Amateur Chef: Houlon Chili by amateur chef Deb Michaud

Other noted entries include Mechanic Falls Town Manager John Hawley and Michelle Hawley with their famous Hawley fish chowda (which obviously intimidated other local town managers from competing), chef Scott Smith from Black Bear Entertainment with his delicious chocolate chili, and Bread & More Bakery with their special ham chowda.

For more information about this event, go to the Boghooters Snowmobile Club Facebook page or email Boghooters@yahoo.com.