Will Rogers called chili “bowls of blessedness.” Clark Gable ate it the night before he died. Spanish priests believed it was the soup of the devil. So it is no wonder that, with credentials such as these, chili became the focus of everyone’s attention during the Sixth Annual Concordia Theological Seminary Chili Cook-Off.

The event is held during Gemutlichkeit on Friday afternoon. A few years ago, someone realized that nothing goes better with a Lutheran beverage than a bowl of hot chili, and the cook-off was born. The rules are simple: make your signature chili, market it, and don’t be above bribing your fellow students. The chili can be entered in one of two catergories: orthodox (no beans, potatoes, or pasta) or heterodox (the kitchen sink). A panel of four judges (Dr. Arthur Just, Dr. David Scaer, Dr. Larry Rast, and Prof. Roland Ziegler) rated each chili on its texture, color, aroma, and flavor. After the judges have had a chance to sample each of the chilis (there were fifteen entries this year), all the spectators are given the opportunity to taste the soup as well. And, in the end, winners were chosen in both catergories, and a people’s choice award was given as well.

The seminary community gathers for this event each year. It’s fun to compete, to think that your chili is better than the guy’s next to you, to hope that Dr. Scaer says the cilantro in your soup makes it stand out from all the rest. And, to be sure, it was the perfect supper for a rainy May evening. But the chili is just a carrier for conversation and fellowship. Lutherans gather around food, and they enjoy time well spent with friends and teachers. The chili cook-off facilitates that.

So, at the end of the day, it’s not really about the chili at all. The food is tasty. It’s warm. It’s fun. But the cook-off isn’t just about the food or the competition or the awards. It’s about being Lutheran and having a good time while you’re at it.