This article has been updated to correctly identify the third participating assisted living facility as the Arbors, not Brookdale.

The Dartmouth Adult Social Day program took the top prize at the Council on Aging’s third annual chili cook-off on Friday, which saw over 50 people come to the senior center to taste and vote on their favorite chili.

Five organizations competed for the “Best Chili” award this year: The Social Day program, the Council on Aging, and assisted living facilities the Cottages at Dartmouth Village, the Residence at Cedar Dell, and the Arbors of Taunton.

The winners will be recorded preparing their recipe in the Dartmouth Community TV kitchen studio.

The event is held each year in memory of former Council on Aging driver Wayne Pittsley, said COA director Amy DiPietro. She said that Pittsley’s wife comes to the event every year. 

“It’s nice to have a day to remember our friend,” she noted.

“To be honest, I don’t know if he liked chili,” she added with a laugh. “If we had a Christmas party, he was dressing up as Santa Claus. When we had the fashion show, I had bought him a tuxedo t-shirt, and he was in the fashion show. So he was willing to do whatever.”

The room was decorated with brightly colored paper and chili pepper centerpieces as each competitor ladled out color-coded bowls of chili for guests to try. 

Many came with extra fixings, like home made corn bread, jalapeno garnishes, and traditional toppings like onion, cheese and sour cream.

“They all were excellent,” said taste tester and Dartmouth resident Beverly Wheeler. “They all had a different little twist to it.”

“I’ll be back next year,” she added with a laugh.

Social Day program manager Maria Bakerink’s chili recipe won handily with 26 votes, while DiPietro made the COA’s chili, which came in second place with nine votes.

Bakerink grinned as she received the winner’s plaque.

“It was a top secret recipe that somebody provided to me,” she said mysteriously. “She’s a family friend.”

Eventually, Bakerink was persuaded to reveal her secret. 

“I would say the secret is, go with lean beef,” she said. “That did make a difference. Don’t go cheap out on the fat meat.”