Rotary serves up 'secret' chili

SIKESTON -- The chili served at the Sikeston Rotary Club's annual Chili Day is so well received, its recipe has been kept under wraps for over 50 years.

The nonprofit organization even assigns one member to guard the chili recipe each year.

"People want to eat this chili," said Darlene Leonard-Reed, president of Sikeston Rotary Club. "It's well-seasoned."

Several years ago one of the Rotary members came up with the recipe, and the same one has been used ever since, Leonard-Reed said. Often times the same member will keep the recipe safe for multiple years and then pass on the task to another member.

The "secret recipe" was calculated for making large quantities, Leonard-Reed said. No other details can be given about it -- except that it does include spices, she said.

"We bag up the spices, and each chili pot used one bag of those spices," she said. "...

"It's spicy and full-bodied. We don't like it if it's bland."

The all-you-can-eat chili and hot dog meal serves about 1,200 people each year.

Members estimated the chili fundraiser has been organized annually for over 50 years.

"We needed a fundraiser and chili is easy to do," Leonard-Reed said.

Rounding out the meal are jumbo hot dogs served on buns and ice cream, which is donated by Unilever.

For the complete story, see Friday's Standard Democrat.