No-bean chili
rule a has-beanPATIENCE, some wise human once stated, is a virtue. I'm living proof of that, having more or less boycotted (person-cotted?) the Compadres South Seas Pacific Chili Cookoff for 12 years because of its nonsensical rule that beans are forbidden as an ingredient. It all goes back to some idiot contest in Texas where they have a fondness for meat soup which they call chili, but are aghast if someone tries to improve it by adding beans. This year, Texas and its silly rules are out, and beans are allowed for the first time in chili recipes. Mind you, in past years you could use onions, celery, fish or whatever you wanted as long as you eschewed beans. Bean lovers held fast, and this Sunday nearly every recipe on display will be improved because of the rules change. And, I might add, one of the sponsors this year year is the Gas Company ... Alas, no chili from the Grand Lunch in Keokuk, Iowa. It's closed, and the owners took the recipe with them. It's now a Pizza Hut ...
MEANWHILE, you can grind to a halt in Wahiawa where Rick Price has opened the Pit Stop. The Texas burgers there are named after the owner's favorite classic autos, such as the Roadmaster. Continuing the theme, it should be noted that Price also owns two Union 76 stations and Fastlube as well as the Flagship Auto Service Center at Wahiawa Town Center ... Conan O'Brien's late night antics following Jay Leno and the "Tonight Show," often feature flatulence jokes; so it should be noted here that the vacation he just wrapped up in Hawaii was a gas ...
WHEN dancer and choreographer Richard Lee lived in Hawaii, he performed with Ballet Hawaii (where he was known as Emery) and danced around the news on KGU. During that time, Lee performed at venues as disparate as the Blaisdell Concert Hall and Waikiki showrooms. Now he's reached something of a milestone. On Saturday he'll perform at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. If you're too young, that may mean nothing, but old-timers such as I remember it as the last place where Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and Buddy Holly performed before dying in plane crash on the way to their next gig. The occasion became known as "The day the music died." Back to Lee -- he now performs with a rip-off of the Village People and they'll be appearing at the Surf Ballroom as the Village Idiots. The hard part for Lee, he reports, is figuring out how to put "Village Idiot" on his resume ... Village Idiots
THE death of Randy Lee marks two of Hawaii's most genial hoteliers dying in recent weeks. Nick Bahouth preceded Lee in death. Coincidentally, each was G.M. of the Hotel Hana-Maui at one time, though Bahouth was probably best known as topper at the Sheraton Kauai (when Hurricane Iwa wiped it out and he shed tears on TV) and Lee when he ran the Willows Restaurant. Lee ended his working days at Kona Village Resort, which reminded him of the old Hawaii his Willows symbolized ...
FOR "The Will Rogers Follies" at Diamond Head Theatre, Scott Wakefield brings from Houston 15 crates of spectacular costumes, many from the elaborate Ziegfeld era. Costumes for the cast of 28 include a red, white and blue ensemble with straw hats containing tambourines, and for the Ziegfeld girls a dogie outfit complete with bullhorns. How'd you like to be stuck behind him at baggage claim? Wakefield stars in the show, opening at DHT Sept. 19 ... Dogie duds from Houston
Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.