Glenville Firefighters To Compete in Regional Chili Cook-off

The Glenville Volunteer Fire Department has some hot stuff ... their award-winning chili.

For those who attended the 6th annual Cos Cob Chili Cook-Off in October, folks know that Joe Sechi and Tom Zawatski served up tongue-tingling beef chili. It was tasty enough to garner the representatives of the Glenville fire company a second-place in the cookoff.

Now the men are now headed to Long Island this weekend, having been selected for the CBS Radio Firehouse Chili Cook-off. On Sunday, Dec. 8, they will compete against three other fire companies from Long Island and Westchester to determine who has chili deserving of the final round of competition. 

Each of the 12 firehouses in the semi-finals has the chance to impress the judges, which include former New York Giant and CBS Sports Radio host, Tiki Barber, and former NFL punter Sean Landeta. Semi-finals will be held on football Sundays on Dec. 8, at Miller’s Ale House in Levittown, NY; Dec. 15, at Miller’s Ale House in Paramus, NJ; and Jan. 5 at Break Bar & Billiards in Long Island City, N.Y., according to CBS Radio.

Fans and friends are encouraged to attend, cheer on their favorites and sample some chili. And in his posting on Greenwich Patch, Sechi says he is organizing a bus trip to Sunday's competition so Greenwich supporters can attend. Contact him at jsechi@glenvillefire.org.

Each semi-finalist will receive a $500 donation to their charity of choice.

The winning firehouse from each event will compete in the final round, on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014 at Suite 36 in New York City (16 West 36th St.), where the ultimate Firehouse Chili Cook-Off winner will be crowned. The grand prize winning firehouse will receive VIP tickets to a 2014 New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium.

The Glenville company will be competing Dec. 8 against Long Beach Professional Fire Fighters – Engine Company 3, Rockville Center Fire Department – Eureka Hook and Ladder Company #1, and Village of Hastings on Hudson – Engine 44. The competition will be held at Miller’s Ale House, 3046 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown, NY.

At the Cos Cob chili chow-down in October, Sechi and Zavatski said their award-winning chili is composed of "four different hot pepper, four different onions, peeled plum tomatoes and the proper powdered seasoning."

Good luck to the Glenville guys on Sunday!