Last Saturday, I braved the dreary weather for some soul-warming chili. As the official dish of the state of Texas, chili (more formally known as chili con carne) is essentially an American classic by now, and could even be considered a staple dish in certain parts of the country. I think it’s also a food that allows, and even encourages, flexibility and ingenuity in its creation – between the long-running debate on whether it should include beans or tomatoes, and the expansion of its applications to hot dogs, fries, and other dishes, there’s a lot of room for the chef’s personal exploration.

Personally, I think that’s what makes chili a great cook-off food as well – the wide range of possibilities. Every single sample of chili I tried last week was unique, but I’ll list some of my favorites: Texas Roadhouse’s chili was sweet and much thinner than almost every other recipe I tried; Ithaca Bread Co.’s Jalapeno Cheeseburger chili made up for the lack of cheeseburger flavor with the abundance of jalapenos; and Luna didn’t hold back with their chocolate-covered pork belly (one of the most surprisingly delicious food combinations I’ve ever tasted, if anyone was wondering). Most of the recipes left an impression on me, and even if they weren’t memorable to the point of me being able to recall the taste a week later, I definitely didn’t think any of them tasted the same or – heavens forbid – bland in any way at the time. I’m not sure if there’s any other food as conducive to improvisation as chili, since even the base ingredients seem to be highly contested, but that is definitely not a bad thing. Plus, I think each of the chefs, along with the institution they represented, got to showcase their individual talents, and I’m never one to not cheer on someone when it’s their moment to shine.

In the end, I left with a full stomach and a full heart. While walking through the commons, chili in hand, and looking at the thirty-or-so local chefs who were able to share their edible passions and dreams with us, I realized just how easy it is to get so caught up in playing the game of life that you forget the simpler joys of life. Amidst all my papers and exams, I’m glad I was able to witness a gathering of people who love what they do so much that they’re willing to share it with their entire community – and I only hope that my future is filled with the same kind of satisfaction (and high quality chili).