Meritrust named grand champ at chili cookoff

For about 10,000 people on Saturday, the 33rd Annual Wichita Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cookoff was a chance to get a taste of chili, chili and more chili. But the event was also a competition, with bragging rights at stake.

Following are the results of that competition, listed by category, and the winners who can now lay claim to the aforementioned bragging rights.

Grand champion: Meritrust Credit Union

People’s choice-bean: Savor-Intrust Bank Arena, first; Afterburn, second

Charity choice-bean: Ronald McDonald House, first

ICS verde chili: Savor-Intrust Bank Arena, first; Emerson Biggins, second; Hog Call Chili, third; Howie Do Chili, fourth; AIP Afterburner Chili, fifth

ICS red chili: AIP Afterburner Chili, first; Hawkeye Chili, second; Buzzard Bait Chili, third; Inappropriate Chili, fourth; Hog Call Chili, fifth

Restaurant: The Diamond Plate Truck, first; Emerson Biggins, second; Red Bull BBQ, third; The Monarch, fourth; River City Brew Crew, fifth

Anything goes: Kansas Star Casino, first; AIP Afterburner Chili, second; Kansas 2-Step Chili, third; Sterling Silver, fourth; Fat Head Chili, fifth

No beans: Toucan Chili 2, first; Meritrust Credit Union, second; Kansas 2-Step Chili, third; AIP Afterburner Chili, fourth; Howie Do Chili, fifth

Chili for charity: Wichita Children’s Home, first; Wichita Festivals Inc., second; East YMCA Men’s Club, third; Ronald McDonald House, fourth; Passageways, fifth

ICS salsa: Hot Nights-Chili Days, first; Toucan Chili 2, second; Cold 3 Chili, third; Chili Cocinero’s, fourth; Toucan Chili 1, fifth

Team spirit: Wichita Festivals Inc., first; Security 1st Title, second; KSN, third

Best booth: Wichita Festivals Inc., first; Security 1st Title, second; Meritrust Credit Union, third

This story was originally published September 25, 2016 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Meritrust named grand champ at chili cookoff."