SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Jessica Budgell, a vegetarian, stared hard at the chili.

Meat eaters milled about her, waxing poetic on the virtues of the white chili, the chocolate chili, the hot chili, the sweet potato chili.

Claudia Haus, left, and Katarina Canthew, right, represent second and third place teams from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and the Business Development and Investment Corporation. Organizer Deanna Leonard, centre, meanwhile, accepting first place on behalf of the NWT Library Association team at the Greenstone Building on Nov. 9. - Aaron Beswick/NNSL photo

Steak and hamburger and sausage and chicken – Budgell was surrounded by delicious steaming crock pots of death on Nov. 9.

"I cracked," she admitted, tearing into a Styrofoam cup of chicken chili. "I didn't get the beef though – that would have been going too far."

Was it worth violating her principles?

"Yes. All that talk about the chili and its good, a moment in time."

Would anyone be ashamed of her?

"Maybe the chapter of the Association of Vegetarians I started in Halifax," she said.

But she had supporters – chili artists Erin Palmer, Aingeal Stone and Brad Hall of the NWT Library Association smothered her in a group hug. Sometimes, we all need someone to lean on.

They soon had more to celebrate – winning the Greenstone Building's 2010 Chili Challenge by a landslide.

"It's a family recipe," said Stone of the white chili complemented by cilantro sour cream and mango-lime salsa. "They mellow the chili to the point that it's striking, but not overpowering."

Meanwhile, second and third places went to combination teams from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and the Business Development and Investment Corporation.

Visitors paid a minimum donation of $5 to savour chili to their heart's delight and then lay judgement on who pleasured them most. Half the proceeds, which were unknown at press time, will go to the NWT Literacy Council and the remaining money will go toward the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign.

The competition was organized by previous winners from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.