Meet the Champions of the 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off

Neighbors and friends gathered for a lively evening of connection at the Trick-or-Treat and Vendor Market.

After an amazing morning at the Mableton Pumpkin Chase, there was no better way to end Saturday than at Our Giving Garden's Trick-or-Treat and Vendor Market!

Between the lively atmosphere and the chilly fall weather, it was the perfect night to sample the 11 homemade recipes in their 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off.

Amy Carstensen took first place with her "Brisket Chili," followed by Ronald Juste ("Ron's Famous Chili") in second, and Anne Howard ("No Bull Chili") in third.

Surprisingly, two of the top three winners were vegan, even though they competed directly in the same category as the meat options!

But the absolute best part of the evening was catching up with everyone who came out.

James Bowes and Jennifer Linville brought their family out for the evening. "It was nice to see our son hang out with other kids and have fun," they shared. "Meeting all the different vendors and seeing people with their homemade things in our community was really cool." When it came to the cook-off, both agreed the vegan chili was their standout favorite.

John and Iris drove over from Douglasville and were thrilled with the vibe. "The atmosphere and energy in general was better than I expected," they noted. "There's a lot of people, and everyone's been so friendly." They managed to sample three of the chilis before getting full—with Iris calling the bison her favorite, while John loved the cajun shrimp!

If you missed the market, you can still support this fantastic local spot. Our Giving Garden is still selling pumpkins for the season! Stop by and grab yours this week:

📍 75 Cooper Lake Road, Mableton 🕒 Open daily, 10 AM - 6:30 PM

Check out the images from the event below!