Hola amigos! It’s time once again for the annual OCWS Chili Cook-off. We hope that many of you will want to demonstrate your closet cooking skills and enter your own special brew of chili. If you want to simply attend and sample the many chili’s being offered, that is great too!
The Chili Cook‑off will be held on Sunday, October 17, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in The Wine Courtyard at the Orange County Fairgrounds.
In addition to all the great diverse chilies, we will be cooking barbecue picnic fare with all the accompaniments. We will have a wide variety of wines and beer to cool your tongue after tasting the chilis. In keeping with tradition, a live band will provide music for listening and dancing. Chili Award categories are as follows...
Best Chili Overall – 1st Place
Best Chili Overall – 2nd Place
Best Chili Overall – 3rd Place
Hottest Chili
Mildest Chili
Most Unusual Chili
Best Chili With Wine
Best Presentation
People's Choice
Best First‑Time Chili Cook
All chili entrants will be awarded two bottles of wine for your efforts. Prize-winning chili chefs will be awarded a famous Engraved Chili Ladle denoting your winning category.
Once again, we will allow the chili chefs to determine in what category they would like their chili judged. On the sign-up sheet, check if you would like your chili to be judged in the hottest, mildest, or most unusual category. If you have selected wine as an ingredient, please indicate the “Chili With Wine” only if you wish your chili to be judged in that category.
Don't forget to indicate the name of your chili on the entry form.
Please allow enough time to set up your presentation display and prepare your chili for judging. Set-up time will be available from 11:00 a.m. Remember, your presentation and chili must be ready by 12:30 p.m. for chili‑judging. At approximately 1:00 p.m., we will open for general chili tasting.
Admission price is $20 for members and $25 for guests who want to “taste” only. Chili Team contestants are admitted free. Registration must be received by Wednesday, October 13.
I am still in need of a few volunteers to help with this event. If you would like to join me (and Janie) to put on this fun event, just drop me an e-mail to john4wine@msn.com. Committee members are “comped” for this event.
I still need volunteers for…
- Set-Up and Clean-Up
- Stewarding
- Registration and Reception
- Wine and Beer Serving
~ Chili Cook-off Rules ~
1. Each team will consist of no more than two cooks, one of which must be a member of the OCWS.
2. Each Chili Team will have four linear feet of display area.
3. Each entry must provide at least five quarts of chili.
4. Chili must be ready for judging by 12:30 p.m.
5. The name of your chili and your category selection must be on the entry form.
6. If wine is used as an ingredient, please state the varietal.
7. Provide a way to keep the chili hot (camp stove, crock pot, etc.)
8. Please let us know if you'll need electricity.
9. Judging will start at 12:30 p.m., open tasting to follow at 1:00 p.m.
10. Bring your own ladle or spoon for serving.
11. Each chili will be eligible for a judge's award in only one category.
12. Chili entrants must have the entry form in the office no later than October 13.
John Goodnight
The Head Jalapeño