Church Prepares Mountains of Chili for Seventh Annual Chili Bowl

For those who want chili during the Super Bowl but don’t want to cook it themselves, the presents this Saturday from 5-7 p.m.

The annual event is open to the public, said church member John Sissala.

“This is a chance for people to have a night off from cooking and support a community event,” he said.

This year the church made 500 quarts of chili with meat and 100 quarts of vegetarian chili. It has taken the church members two weeks to prepare the amount.

Church member Gary DuBowy will be in charge of the Saturday night festivities, which not only includes chili dinners, but also a moon bounce, games for the children and a bake sale. DuBowy said the church has complied with county codes, passed inspection and gotten their food permit.

So far the church has sold about 50 quarts of chili to the parents of children in their day school and scout meetings, said DuBowy. He said one church member put out fliers in his neighborhood, which brought in customers and they plan to put out more fliers next year.

The church will also be offering the chili for takeout over the next couple of weeks, selling a 32-ounce container for $12. DuBowy said they had to depend on takeout orders last year because snow interfered with the night of their dinner.

“We will do whatever it takes to sell it,” DuBowy said.

Sissala said the church’s chili doesn’t come from a can. 

“We have our secret ingredients,” he said. 

Their recipe comes from member Pete Johnson, who won a chili cook-off at the church a few years back.

“It’s the only thing I can cook,” Johnson said. “My wife won’t let me near the kitchen.”

Johnson said his ingredients are traditional — ground beef, kidney beans, chili powder and a little sugar. He said he also uses a combination of green peppers, onions, and celery.

“The French call it the Holy Trinity of vegetable cooking,” Johnson said.

Money raised from the sale goes into the church’s general fund, said Sissala. In the past, proceeds have gone to help a Methodist church and a soup kitchen in Washington, D.C., as well as a project called Christmas in April, which helps needy families in the area. Sissala said they hope to raise $3,000 this year.

DuBowy added that the chili sale is not just to raise money. 

“This gives visitors a chance to see part of the church and its members,” DuBowy said. “And it is a great opportunity for church members to get to know one another better.”

Adult dinners are $12, children six to eleven are $6, and children five and under are free. Takeout orders can be picked up during the week at the church office. For more information, call the Potomac United Methodist Church at 301-299-9383.