Fifteen Pots of Chili at Our 4th Annual Fall Party in Green Mountain

by Travis Hightower

Fifteen cooks brought a pot of chili to our fourth annual Fall Party at Green Mountain in Lakewood, on September 26, and plenty more friends, family, neighbors, and past clients came to taste and vote. Molly's white chili took first place, and Flylow provided prizes for the winning cooks.

Guests at red-covered tables in a driveway in front of a two-story house, with more people in the open garage

Tables in the driveway for year four of the Fall Party.

Why do we call our home the House of Joy?

We call our home the House of Joy. We bought it from Joyce, who lived here from the day it was built in 1968, and the nickname felt appropriate. It also sets the tone for what we do here every September. If you're curious about the neighborhood we call home, here's more on Green Mountain Estates.

Why a chili cook-off this year?

It's hard to believe it has already been four years of our annual Fall Party. The party evolves with a new theme each year, and this time we took a simpler approach than in the past several years. A chili cook-off let people show off their recipes and gave us a reason to officially bring in fall. Credit for the idea goes to my Aunt Lynn!

Who won the chili cook-off?

Guests tasted the chili, filled out ballot cards, and dropped them in the voting box.

Chili cook-off voting box on a red tablecloth, with guests seated at long tables behind it

A full voting box, ready for the count.

Three smiling guests in a driveway holding wooden spoons wrapped in checkered cloth

Three of the winning cooks with their wooden spoons.

Here's how the voting came out.

First place

Molly, with her white chili

Second place

Daniel, with an over-the-top smoked chili

Third place, tied

Sam, with a medley of meats and spices

Third place, tied

Josh, with a chili he named the "colon cleanse"

Congratulations to Molly, Daniel, Sam, and Josh, and thank you to every cook who brought a pot of chili and let the rest of us be the judges.

Where did the prizes come from?

Flylow hooked up prizes for the winning cooks. I picked up a few more items as well, because I love their gear and wanted to spread it around to friends. Thank you to Flylow for supporting a neighborhood chili cook-off.

Folding table with Flylow shirts and flannels, three wooden spoons, ballot cards, markers, and the chili cook-off voting box

Flylow gear and wooden spoons waiting for the winners, next to the ballot cards and voting box.

Who else made this year special?

This year was extra special because Sara's mom flew in for the weekend, and we got to visit with her. My mom baked her special cornbread, which everyone loved.

Two women standing in a garage under a chili cook-off banner

Sara with her mom, who flew in for the weekend.

Three women smiling together outdoors, one holding a plate of chili and cornbread

My mom with Suzi and Brook with cornbread in hand.

A Note From Travis

I love connecting people around good food and fun, and this party puts friends, family, neighbors, and past clients in one place. Sara and I look forward to it all year, and it works because of who shows up. If you were there, thank you for cooking, for voting, and for bringing your families. With fall officially here, I'm calling in an epic winter. Let's go, Super El Niño.

Travis Hightower, Green Mountain homeowner and Realtor for 20+ years.

If you'd like an invitation to next September's Fall Party, fill out the "Get More Information" form below. Most invitations go out by mail, and the theme changes every year.

GET MORE INFORMATION

Travis Hightower

+1(303) 829-7724