Spice up Saturday with benefit for abused children

The community is invited to sample the fare as more than 25 contestants vie for the award-winning recipe in the first Chili Cook Off at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Madeleine’s Bar, 103 Santa Isabel Ave., Costa Mesa.

Proceeds from the event, which includes a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses, will benefit severely abused and neglected children at Canyon Acres Children and Family Services in Anaheim.

For more than 25 years, Canyon Acres has placed children in foster care and adoptive homes, a residential treatment center or community-based homes, and offered home-based services.

The panel of chili cook off judges will include Peter Torre, original owner of Charlie’s Chili restaurant in Newport Beach. Admission is free; donations are welcome. Call (714) 330-0400 or go to www.canyonacres.org.

— Sue Thoensen