Chili chefs

The people at The Hinckley Co. may be known for their boat building, but they also make a heck of a bowl of chili. Becky Murphy, who works in Hinckley’s service department, won the fifth annual Chili Cook Off with her recipe, No Cook Chili. Hers was selected from 20 entries, 10 each at Hinckley’s Southwest Harbor and Trenton locations. Here’s her winning recipe, which actually does require a little bit of cooking:

To prepare No-Cook Chili, combine 3 cans of your favorite beans, 1 large can diced tomatoes, 1 package Old El Paso chili mix, 1 onion, chopped, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 can tomato paste, 1/2 jar hot jalapenos, drained, 1 container Lloyd’s shredded pork with barbecue sauce (2-pound tub), and 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro. Simmer for 30 minutes. This recipe tastes better if you mix the ingredients the night before and refrigerate overnight.

Taste of the town

Food lovers can sample food from Margarita’s, Pat’s Pizza, the Bear Brew Pub, Gifford’s Ice Cream, The Store-Ampersand and Governor’s at the Orono Tasting Bee, from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, at the Asa Adams Elementary School gym. Through the evening, there will be giveaways of gift certificates from Bell’s IGA in Orono, R&J Pizza Mart and Always Flowers in Veazie, Flowers in Orono and Shop ‘n Save in Old Town. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12 years old, and children under 6 will be admitted free. Proceeds from the event will fund the restoration of the Orono Fire Department’s 1934 Maxim pumping truck. Members of the Orono Historical Society and the Orono Fire Department will be selling advance tickets for the event, or they will be on sale at the door. For information, call Marlene Doucette at 866-2597.

Beer’s here

Beer lovers now can cool down with Harpoon’s Summer Beer. The beer is a light-bodied golden brew in the Kolsch style, which originated in Cologne, Germany. It’s available in stores throughout New England, or you can try it at Harpoon’s Brewstock, “a celebration of local Boston beer, bands and barbecue,” June 7-9 at the brewery. For details, visit www.harpoonbrewery.com.