Gung Haggis Fat Chili will make its debut at Vancouver City Hall on Oct 13, 2004.

It is the annual City of Vancouver Employees' United Way kickoff
campain.  Our team is representing Vancouver Public Library
employees.  My team members are Dawn and Alison. 

Dawn is shopping for the ingredients, is our VPL United Way
committee chair and has done a splendid job of bringing our team
together.  Alison is bringing her oven roasted chili spices and a
lamb chili recipe.  I am bringing the haggis, propane cooking
stove and my accordion.

We believe that Alison's ingredients and recipes are SO GOOD, that
despite the haggis, we will win the cook-off!  Honestly… we use
a very nice haggis, already tendered with many spices from Peter Black
& Sons secret recipe.

10am is set up in the Councillor's Parking lot at City Hall, 12th Ave. and Cambie St. in Vancouver.

11am we start cooking Chili – competing against other City of Vancouver employee teams, including the Fire Fighters – reknown for their skills mastering the hot stuff.

12pm we dish up a bowl for the judges including
Mayor Larry Campbell.  I will “pipe” in our chili, on my
accordion, playing “Scotland the Brave.”

People then line up for tastings of all the different chilis – they
each get a spoonful. Over 300 people lined up for tastings last year.

Already there is a buzz at City Hall about “the Haggis Chili.” 
Kate Lekas at City Hall helped us refine the name – suggesting
we substitute “Choy” with “Chili.” – thus “Gung Haggis Fat Chili.

Mayor Larry Campbell is known to wear his Campbell tartan kilt
at black tie events… although I doubt he will have it for the chili
cook-off.  I may wear the Fraser of Lovat kilt – currently in my
care, and I promised Dawn that I would bring some of the tartan sashes
that our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.  Maybe I will will
my stetson and cowbody boots with the kilt!

Cheers all, Todd