Chili Cook-off contestant in the video above said, This is my first time participating. It just came into my head. I'm having a great time, but I'm not sharing my recipe. No way. That's all.

First time contestants at a recent  California chili cook-off did pretty well as far as the crowd of taste testers, samplers and judges were concerned. The only thing not planned for was running out of chili. So many hungry beach folks came to try the new recipes, or tried and true handed down secrets that the food was nearly gone and the event still had a few hours to go.

As a $5/admission fundraising event for local scholarships, there were no hurt feelings. The Sunset Beach Community Center where the annual Chili Cook-off was held is surrounded by dozens of cafes, restaurants and bars.  You can work your way down this one-mile stretch of the coast dining on fish, lobster, King crab legs, sushi at Daimon or Tsunami Sushi, Italian, sandwiches, salads, soups, Starbuck's coffee and two breakfast all-day favorites, plus Taco Surf.

So when the food runs out at a chili cook-off, head over and grab chili at a local restaurant such as Woody's or Shorehouse Cafe.  And the lesson is, go early when the gates open.