Spicing up the competition...

BARSTOW • Barstow residents Michelle Sandoval (left) and Richard Romero (center) dig into the line-up of seven varieties of home-made chili at Mollie’s Pub Sunday. Mollie’s hosted their first chili cook-off to benefit local charity Holiday Meals during the Super Bowl.

Barstow resident Ross Hayes said his entry into the contest was his first attempt at making chili. “I just threw it together,” he said. “It’s pretty hot.”

Holiday Meals co-chairs Mark Sielski and Gloria Webster judged the entries, along with help from randomly selected bar patron, Mike Stark of Charleston, S.C. The three chose Sandoval’s chili, which featured two types of beans, as the first place winner.