| What better way to enjoy a Saturday or Sunday
afternoon than to spend it COOKING CHILI! It's not
as farfetched as it may sound.
Lots of people make chili. But cooking chili in
a Cookoff is where the action REALLY is. So let's
take a "cooks eye view" of what it takes to compete.
First of all, It helps if you have 1 or 2 other
crazy people to join you! Remember the more the
merrier. Then, you will have to fill out that
entry form and send it in, along with any fees, to the
Cookoff organizers. Entry fees will vary from
Cookoff to Cookoff depending on the organizers.
Now you need to start perfecting your secret recipe. Don't
try to reinvent the wheel here. There are
thousands and thousands of chili recipes out there.
You can start right here at Chilicookin.com if you wish.
But Remember, NO BEANS, or fillers in competition chili.
Meat will differ in each chili recipe. Some prefer
"Mock Tender", Chuck or Tri-Tip. There is also
Chili Grind. Make sure the cookoff you are
attending is not a "Chili Grind Only" type of event.
Personally I think cubed beef is the way to go. If it is
a "Grind" only event, see your butcher. Most chili
grind you find in the store is just hamburger.
Chili Grind is a larger Grind. Talk to your
butcher. he really is a chili cooks best friend.
Meanwhile, your group will probably want to choose a
theme for your team and chili, and begin planning
costumes and decorations. (there is no rule saying that
you have to dress up and decorate. You can just come and
cook. But most of the fun lies in the creativity
of the teams, and there are some crazy themes out
there.)
You will be provided an area to setup in. Here
are some of the things you will need.
- EZ-UP or other "pop-up" style tent/cover (very
handy for keeping the sun off your head)
- Pots, Pans, spoons
- Spices - according to your secret recipe of
course!
- Stove - Chili must be cooked on-site - generally
electric is not provided so you may want to use a
Propane camp stove.
- Meat - a very important item in any Cookoff
- Cooler a good way to keep the meat cold
- Drinks, water etc..
This page will be added to often. if you have
specific questions, please drop us a line!
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