Jul 23, 2014
The following account is true, but more in the James Frey sense, than the NY Times sense. It has a certain truthiness to it.
The weekend began with so much promise. Backed by the thousands of available chili recipes at the library, the Medicine Hat Public Library (MHPL) Team felt sure their entry would be victorious at the Chili Cook-off. Upon hearing that MHPL had entered this glorious battle the champions from the Esplanade and the Medalta hastily withdrew their chili cook-off applications lest they be beaten by the brave librarians on the field of battle.
Battle preparations began well. The kitchen was scrubbed clean. The chopping and the cooking began Friday evening leaving plenty of time to cook unrushed. Only the finest ingredients were selected – sourced locally from the Canadian Superstore. The giant pots began to sizzle then quieted down to a murmur, sustaining the Alberta Health regulated 60 degrees Celsius, as the vegetables, spices and meatless ground round coalesced into a spicy hearty stew. The final flavoring of ghost peppers pushed this chili into delicious heights never before reached by a vegan recipe.
Happier times for Safira Lachapelle, library volunteer, minutes before disaster struck.
The next morning the MHPL team arrived early, marching onto the field proudly bearing the library's standard. They registered and began to gently reheat their chili. But mighty Ares, in his heavenly seat, took notice of this brash team and their out sized ambition. They presume to win though they have never competed before? And with a vegan chili?! Anger stirred in his broad breast and he unleashed the fury of the winds. The winds tussled tents and threw objects around. It also kept blowing out the library team's Bunsen burner. Losing precious heating time the team had to heat the chili faster and faster to meet the regulated temperature! Urging the broth once again to 60 degrees Celsius -- they pushed the chili too hot too fast! And like Icarus, the pot of carefully prepared chili was singed by the flames. Those lofty heights reached now began to be undone. The burned bottom, though unseen, began to permeate the soupy mix tingeing the mixture with smoke. The team tried valiantly to repair the damage with liberal does of mild smoked paprika, but alas it was too late! Only 20 minutes into serving the chili the MHPL Team sadly decided that the offending burnt flavor was not worth serving. Rather than besmirch MHPL's good name they shut it down.
As they sadly removed the giant pot and closed down the stand Medicine Hat News Reporter, Charles Lefebvre, walked by documenting the Cook-off. The veteran reporter, unimpressed by their story of disaster and foiled dreams, said philosophically, "there are a lot of losers at Chili Cook-off and only one winner." He then focused on Luca and Mateo Laliberté, the cute kids and their lemonade stand next to the library table. (It was damn good lemonade.) "Cute kids sell newspapers, not sad librarians," said Lefebvre as he moved on.
Well, their story may not be newsworthy, just another losing entry on this street of broken dreams. And though, like Seinfeld's Frank Costanza, they are still haunted by their culinary disaster they will be back next year. There were many turned away disappointed who yearned for the library's chili. The people must have their chili. This defeat will be avenged!