Maureen Barrett has discovered that it is good to be queen.

The La Grange Realtor for Coldwell Banker earned the title Oct. 4 when she walked away with first prize at the 43rd World’s International Chili Society Championship Red Chili Cook-off in Charleston, W. Va. 

“It’s been a few weeks now and  I’m still in shock,” Barrett said of her win.

“The grand prize was $25,000 for a bowl of chili,” Barrett said. “Can you believe it?”

Barrett’s entry in the world of beans is due to her husband, Scott, a chili competitor in his own right. He started competing with chicken and ribs with a group of guys in the area. Then all of a sudden they got into chili.

“Then I joined them, and it became a family thing,” she said. “My husband and I cook chili and compete separately.”

There were about 400 cooks participating  in the three-day event.

“I just must have had the touch that weekend  I guess,” she said. “When they handed me the check I was afraid I was going to lose it. It was just a really fun moment. It is seriously like winning the Miss America pageant, you just feel wonderful.”

Notable
Has placed first, second or third about 30 times during the past 12 years. Has qualified for first in the world competition nine times.

& quotable
“Red  (chili) is really difficult to win, it’s even hard to qualify,” Barrett said.

Philosophy
“Treat people as you expect them to treat you.”

Favorites
BOOKS Mysteries
MUSIC Everything and anything from Motown
HOBBIES “Obviously cooking chili”