Dentist serves Optimists as chief chili chef

When it comes to volunteering, Cape Girardeau resident Bob Fox is cookin'.

For 16 years, Fox has served as the "chief chili chef" for the annual Noon Optimist Club Chili Day.

Fox takes time out from his busy dentistry practice to oversee the preparation of gallons of chili for the club's big fund-raising event.

Held March 6 at the A.C. Brase Arena Building, this year's Chili Day raised funds to help support youth activities in Cape Girardeau, including the Cape Indoor Soccer League, Cape Youth Tackle Football, Junior World of Golf, Youth Appreciation Week, Youth in Government Day and essay and oratorical contests.

"I've always liked chili," said Fox. "When the Optimists decided to sponsor a chili event, I became the chef."

Fox said his band of volunteers, who gather about 6 a.m. to start cutting up onions, turn out between 350 and 450 gallons of chili. The shopping list includes up to 400 pounds of meat, 160 gallons of beans and several boxes of vegetables.

"Cook it, and you're ready to feed more than 1,500 people," he said.

Everybody in the club is a volunteer on chili day, said Fox. The only Optimists not at Chili Day were out-of-town.

Hot stuff

Occasionally, Fox puts a different spin on his chili.

He may forego the beans in a few pots to make "true Texas chili." Chili is the official dish of the State of Texas.

Fox said he also likes chili with beef and pork and he can brew up some r-e-ally hot chili if need be.

The need has come up the past three years, when a small group of hot chili lovers gather on Optimist Chili Day for a "hot chili contest."

Fox brings out his own box of "hot stuff" for that batch. In the box, he said, are at least 15 hot sauces. One of the sauces warns against letting the liquid touch the skin.

"It's pretty much a '10-alarm' batch," he said.