If you like Chili, Chutney and China, then you’ve got to check out the Acuitas Hot Wok showing at last year’s Chili Chutney Cook Off …
欢 迎 欢 迎 朋友 们
我们 就是 最 好 人
尝 一 尝 辣 火 锅
我们 一 定 把 奖 获
huānyíng huānyíng péngyou men
wŏmen jiù shì zuì hăo rén
cháng yi cháng là huŏ guō
wŏmen yí dìng bă jiăng huò
Welcome, welcome one and all
You bet we got the hottest stall
Come taste our sweet-hand pepper pot
Then give us every prize you’ve got!
Or if you prefer a little Trini-style flavour …
Welcome, welcome judging crew
You know we ha’ de hottest booth
Hot-wok cook-up dragon sauce
Chinee Chili! Dat is boss!
Take your pick ‘cause we gave real licks! Well, that’s how we felt on October 18th when we spiced things up at the Petroleum Women's Club 18th Chili Chutney Cook Off 2008 - an annual charity event. The Acuitas team welcomed the Chili Chutney judges to our Hot Wok booth with ear-shattering cheers and wild enthusiasm, then treated them to a group reading of our own home-made tidbit size poem, which was written in Chinese and then translated into English.
As the judges took a quick tour of our booth, they were no doubt impressed with the artistry of our décor. Green bamboo partially spray-painted with vibrant gold was enlivened with stenciled dragons coloured with a striking red and soft gold sheen. Red Chinese lanterns dotted the top of the booth making our presentation distinctly oriental. As the judges entered the booth, we proudly explained, “We did this ourselves, you know! We designed our own booth!”
As the judges departed, we gave them a hearty farewell full of joyous waving and an excited group jump-up. They must have been pretty impressed because we copped the prizes for Best Team Spirit and Best Decorated Booth. We’re mighty proud of ourselves. Even though we did not win best chili or best queen or even the fastest beer-guzzler in the west, we’re pretty ‘choofed’ and swell-chested over our spoils from the many hotly-contested categories. After all, what can top being heralded for team spirit and creative talent!
Two years ago, in 2007, we blazed through the competition, winning four (4) coveted prizes. Last year, however, we kept our fire-breathing dragon on a short leash. We decided to ease up a little on our fellow-contenders, all in the spirit of charity and good will, which distinguish this event. We could have out-peppered everyone with scorchingly brilliant recipes, but we decided to spice things up by keeping everyone on their toes – what dey goin’ an do next year, boy?! Ah wonder if we go get little mercy. Well, smokin’ as our Chinese-dumpling chili was, we givin’ fair warning and we not puttin’ water in we mouth to say … watch out 2009! ‘Cause nex’ time … we comin’ to blaze de way … including a few tails (err, um … pardon the French)! Fiiiii - yah!