Comments on: Chili Challenge — Saturday

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:09:18 +0000

I also wish there had been chili beyond 12:15 (I got there at 11:45). But I will also say that I don’t think it’s a good idea to slam the people who participated. This was already pointed out in an earlier comment, but I think it bears repeating, these are people who donated their time and money to support the special olympics. There may be ways to make the event better, but insulting cooks isn’t one of them.

I don’t remember Zombie Chili, but I do know that at a chili cook-off you won’t like everything that everyone makes. I also know (having done this sort of thing before elsewhere) that it’s fun to try out new ideas in cooking. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

By: Adrienne Grant

Adrienne Grant — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:56:48 +0000

We did have several regular cooks unavailable on Saturday, so we’re always looking for additional cooks to join us. I’ll be sure to post here when it’s time to register for next year’s event so y’all can join us as cooks.

By: Roger

Roger — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:42:51 +0000

Arrived at 12:15 to find about half the competitors with empty pots. Really??! And the stations that did have some chili left it was obvious why; lacking in taste (I’m looking at you Zombie Chili!). Hopefully, this was just a down year. Planning my attack to dominate this competition next year. TEXAS, REPRESENT!

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:52:07 +0000

Selling “tasting kits” with no reasonable assurances that purchasers will get to taste anything? Lame!

By: Adrienne Grant

Adrienne Grant — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:23:43 +0000

The only requirement for the cooks is enough to fill the judging cup. Everyone is encouraged to make extra chili to give out to the crowd, but our group is a group of individuals who have the burden all the expense to bear by themselves. Making a giant pot of chili, especially the competition chili, can get VERY expensive, very quickly. We will work to have more restaurants involved next year that can more easily make a large batch of chili to give out to the crowd. Thanks for your support of the cookoff and the Special Olympics.

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:17:20 +0000

I was disappointed by how quickly everyone ran out. Does anyone know if there is some kind of requirement to make a certain amount of chili that might allow everyone who pays to taste the different entries? A lot of those pots seemed awfully small.

By: Adrienne Grant

Adrienne Grant — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:18:21 +0000

Thanks, that was my chili you loved.

I am one of the organizers of the event and I will keep this site in mind for next year’s event. If anyone who sees this wants to join us for other cookoffs in the area, check out the Piedmont Pepper Pod website for events and cookoff results, http://www.ncchili.com.

By: Jim Box

Jim Box — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:46:59 +0000

They ran out of stuff pretty fast – glad I went early.

By: christopher

christopher — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:47:00 +0000

It was fun though I expected to be blown away by at least a few of the offerings. The Blue Devil in the corner had a vegetarian chili with chickpeas that was my favorite of the day.