Annual Bonita chili cook-off event scores high marks for family fun

The winners at the 17th annual Bonita’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Chili Cook-Off & Fair, held May 1 at the Bonita Village Shopping Center, were all new entrants.

Jason Camacho-Seoulman won the first-place prize while other winners include Exit Wounds (second place) and Cool Beans (third place and People’s Choice award).

The event, which is sponsored by the Bonita Kiwanis Foundation, featured chili tastings, the popular 10th annual pie-eating contest, law enforcement displays, a classic car show presented by the South Bay Cruiser car club, as well as a beer garden, live entertainment and a kids corral fun zone.

“I was so delighted with the turnout at the cook-off,” Kiwanis Club president Fernando J. Orozco explained. “It was a great event to attract the local Bonita community and bring together so many families. I want to thank all the Bonita Kiwanians, especially Pat Dolan, for their hard work, in making this event a huge success.

“We hope to continue this event and make it an even bigger success in the coming years. Our goal is to serve the youth and the community of Bonita. As current president, I am humbled by all the hard work that my fellow Kiwanians have done for the improvement of the community.”