Pumpkin fest is a colorful, tasty affair
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

HOLIDAY FUN-Gloria Berman, left, and Marilyn Foraker, right, cast a spell on Diane Hawrylo at the second annual Pumpkin Festival at Leisure Village. The event featured various costume and food contests and attracted nearly 500 village residents. Pumpkin fest is a colorful, tasty affair

Stanley Bryer has no problem sharing the secret recipe of his award-winning "Smoky Bowl Chili" with anyone who wants to know what makes his dish so good.

"It was Liz Taylor's favorite," Bryer said. "It's the chili recipe from Chasen's restaurant in Los Angeles."

Legend has it that Taylor ordered the once top-secret chili from her movie sets throughout the world.

Bryer said he received the recipe, which is now not so secret, from radio personality Jack Carney and has since added to it his two special ingredients-coffee and smoke.

The chili was good enough to win first prize in the second annual Pumpkin Festival at Leisure Village on Mon., Oct. 30.

The event, organized by Jerry Spector and a group of volunteers, drew about 500 seniors to the village's recreation room.

The festivities included contests for pumpkin decoration, costume and special food dishes.

"It's a great event," Bryer said. "You can see how creative people are."

Hilde Daniels, a Leisure Village resident, was one of the participants in the pumpkin decorating competition. Her entry, "Minnie Mouse," was one of the featured pumpkins.

"It's totally handmade," Daniels said. "It took me more hours to make than I care to admit."

Here are the first place winners in the event's various contests:

+Soups and casseroles: Annie Robinson with her Pumpkin Patch Soup.

+Breads: Angela Catalano for her Chocolate Pumpkin Bread.

+Cakes: Beverly Vanvermeulen and her Harvest Spice Cheesechake.

+Pies/cookies: Ali Slabotsky and her Ernie's Favorite Pumpkin Bars.

+Funniest costume: Al Law as "Jack Be-Nimble."

+Most original costume: Kathy Friedman, Joyce Belcher and Mary Ahearn as "Diana Ross and the Supremes."

+Best pumpkin: "Mortimer" by Jim Ronge.