The Big Chili Cookoff lures foodies from around world to Staten Island

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While attendees sampled traditional reds outside, the "Chief Chili Judge" set up shop in the historic Third County Courthouse for score-keeping of the chili verde and salsa. New category this year: "Last Cook Standing," in which the chili chef serving "People's Choice" samples the longest wins a special prize.

The top winner moves on to the ICS World Championship in October.

Note: See full list of 2015 NYC Chili Cookoff winners at the bottom of this post. 

Oh, and if sampling two-ounce servings from more than a dozen cooks -- that's at least a pound-and-a-half of chili, folks -- wasn't enough, there were wings, too.

Ed Wiseman, executive director of HRT, emceed Miller's Ale House chicken-wing eating contest.

"They go to Manhattan and they wimp out! Staten Island is independent!" Wiseman bellowed, engaging in a little good-natured trash-talk with one ex-pat wing man.

Pauly Rivera of Richmond took the "mild" wing category. Nick Volpe and Don Geary tied in the "hot" version -- literally. As a tie-breaker, the guys engaged in an impromptu exotic dance-off, complete with topless Geary table dancing and Volpe pelvic thrusts.

All three scored three-month memberships at L.A. Fitness for their poultry efforts.

2015 NYC Chili Cook-Off Winners:

Traditional Chili (Red Chili)

First Place: $750 - Major League Chilis - James Perkins - Staten Island, NY

Second Place: $300 - Culinary Renegades - Rob Burmeister - Staten Island, NY

Third Place: $200 - Smokey Joe's - Anthony Cucurullo - Staten Island, NY

Fourth Place: $100 - Mad Mike's Killer Chili - Mike Freedman, Somers, CT

Chili Verde (Green Chili)

First Place: $500 - Judi Omerza, Somers, CT

Second Place: $200 -   Marjorie Callahan, Pink Giant Tail Gate Chili, Summit, NJ

Third Place: $100 -  Joseph Callahan, Giants Tail Gate Chili Too, Summit, NJ

Salsa

First Place: $300 - Rob Burmeister, Culinary Renegades, Staten Island, NY

Second Place: $200 - Vicki Tankis, Lucky Ducks Chili, Webster, MA

Third Place: $100 - Katherine Kan, Smart Cookie Social Adult Day Service Corp., Staten Island, NY

People's Choice Chili

First Place: $750 - Culinary Renegades, Rob Burmeister, Staten Island, NY

Second Place: $250 - Road Warriors, Joe Avitto,Staten Island, NY

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