(D.JORDAN) Congratulations to Caitlin Duncan, the Peloquin Family and the entire crew of The Rusty Truck Chili Company! On Saturday June 25, this hard-working family team was crowned Simi Valley’s Chili Champion at the 33rd Annual Knights of Columbus Chili Cook-off and Car Show.
For more than seven years team Rusty Truck, under the leadership of Caitlin’s father, Shawn Peloquin, has steadily climbed to the top of the chili cook-off ranks. Shawn’s secret recipe started in 2014 with an online search for a basic, no-beans chili to serve at a family event.
Shawn has a trusted palate for chili and knows what a good chili should taste like. He began modifying the recipe with just a few ingredients at first. Then he decided to change everything. He solicited critical feedback from friends, family and neighbors. He wanted to hear every opinion and considered every comment as to how his chili could be even more appealing.
Shawn eventually got rid of the beef all together, the most common protein used in chili. Shawn’s chili was now a chicken chili! For many die-hard chili connoisseurs, the use of grilled chicken instead of beef can come as quite a surprise.
Over the years, the family made several more changes to the recipe, trying different techniques and cooking methods. They soon realized, they had something special. The family formed the Rusty Truck team and entered dad’s recipe into their first chili cook off in 2017.
Excited by initial buzz and feedback the team had received, the Rusty Truck crew became more and more optimistic about their chances of winning the Simi Valley competition. Nearly every taster and voter during the event expressed positive feedback for Shawn Peloquin’s recipe and the votes piled up. Crowds surged around the Rusty Truck booth. Everyone seemed to want another taste.
Unfortunately, this being the team’s first event, Rusty Truck made a rookie mistake. They did not prepare enough chili and eventually ran out of product. Without more chili to serve hungry fans, they could not receive more votes. As the day ended, the family stood helpless. They watched two other veteran teams continue to serve tastings and were able to collect enough votes to move past the Peloquin’s, pushing Rusty Truck into the third place slot.
With lessons learned, the team regrouped and enlisted the help of a family friend in the restaurant business. The following year, Mr Peloquin’s Rusty Truck team prepared their product well in advance and focused on a system to cook their chili in batches, one right after another. In 2018, Rusty Truck had enough chili to last until the end of the event and they took First Place!
Building upon their success, Mr. Peloquin and the Rusty Truck Chili Company has become the team to beat for award winning chili. They’ve even started to build a brand for themselves under the banner Rusty Truck, named after Peloquin’s rusty 1951 Ford F-1 which has garnered several awards of its own at car shows across California. The Simi Valley chili community has come know this brand as the standard by which all other chilis will be judged.
Team member, Caitlin Duncan, has this advice for anyone hoping to compete and maybe steal the Rusty Truck chili cook-off crown in 2023, “ I would start now. Perfect your recipe and get feedback from everyone.”
“ …number two, make sure you have enough chili to serve at the event.” she said. And finally, “…make sure you are having fun,” she added.
