Mason’s Grill and Smokehouse was once again the winner of the chili cookoff held Friday evening at Lake Prince Woods to support the Western Tidewater Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

There were roughly 80 people in attendance at the cook-off, and Mason’s Grill won by a total of 29 votes.

Two individuals — Jimmy Newsome and Beth Howell — and four restaurants — Hilton Garden Inn, Baron’s Pub, Mason’s Grill and Harper’s Table — were in the running for the coveted purple mixing spoon trophy.

While the chef wasn’t on site, the owner of Mason’s Grill, Jeremy Branch, was at the event. He believed his chili would be the best, because it was “very meaty and very tasty.”

All of the chefs at the event have a decent amount of experience refining chili recipes to make them better.

Both Newsome and Howell have been cooking for the last 30 years.

“I just like to cook, but I’ve been cooking for 30 years. It’s a de-stresser for me,” Howell said.

This was the first chili cook-off that she has ever been a part of, and she decided to participate just for fun.

She was also one of just two restaurants not have spicy chili. The winners also didn’t have a spicy batch for the tasters.

The youngest cook, from Hilton Garden Inn, only has six to seven years of experience. Ashleigh Meyer, 23, doesn’t have the chance to cook chili often, but she had the opportunity to try something new. Her chili featured sweet potatoes.

Baron’s Pub featured a spicy chili, similar to what it serves at the restaurant with added slow-cooked meat. Jessica Purser, the chef, was hoping to snatch the trophy this year, because they won second place last year.

Harper Bradshaw from Harper’s Table came to help. While Bradshaw has been cooking for quite some time, chili hasn’t always been something he makes often.

This competition also gives him a chance to try something new in his recipes.

“It’s not the original recipe in our arsenal, because we do something different every year,” Bradshaw said.

The event raised roughly $920 for the Alzheimer’s Walk.

The walk will be held at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 15 at Constant’s Wharf, 110 E. Constance Road. For more information, visit alz.org.