PORT TOWNSEND — Heated competition is expected among “chili-heads” seeking to craft the tastiest chili and cornbread around during the 36th annual Port Townsend Chili Cook-Off.
The free cook-off will begin at 12:30 p.m. today (Sunday) at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds at 4907 Landes St.
The Chili Chuckers Horseshoe Tournament will be at 1 p.m.
Chili and cornbread judging will begin at 3 p.m.
The contest is not affiliated with the Washington State Chili Cookoff, which competes under the auspices of the International Chili Society.
It’s just for fun
“It’s not so much about the chili; it’s about having a really good time at an event that has become kind of an institution,” said Larry Dennison, one of the contest founders.
The public is invited to join the festivities as contestants or bystanders at no charge.
A collection for donations will be circulated to offset the cost of renting the fairgrounds space and insurance.
Because of health department rules, the chili being entered and judged will not be available for consumption by the public.
Bring your own
Participants are encouraged to bring their own picnic, chili and beverages in nonbreakable containers.
Picnic tables will be provided.
Contest categories include “Family Style,” “Mild Red,” “Hot Red,” “Chili Verde,” “Vegetarian” and “Cornbread.”
Contestants can prepare their chili or cornbread by any means and at any time they wish as long as it is ready for judging at 3 p.m.
The only rule is that each contestant can enter in just one chili category.
However, each contestant can enter a chili and cornbread recipe for judging.
The winners of each category, minus cornbread, will then compete for Best Overall Chili.
The overall winner gets his or her name engraved on the traveling trophy plaque.
A fire pit and grill are available on-site for contestants to keep their chili entries warm.
2014 winners
The judges this year are all winners from the 2014 contest.
They are Blair Francis, winner of Best Chile Verde and Best Overall Chili; Jason Pruitt, Best Mild Chili; Ron McElroy, Best Family Style Chile; Kacey Trapp, Best Vegetarian Chili; Pete Raab, Best Vegetarian Chili; and Rick Dennison, Best Cornbread.
The judges will not compete this year.
“It was decided early on that the only fair way to select judges for the chili contest was to make the winners of each year’s categories the judges for the next year, so as to allow new winners each year,” Larry Dennison said.
The first cook-off was held in 1980 at the Fort Worden kitchen shelter.
The next year, the kitchen shelter was overwhelmed by hundreds of people, including most of the cast and company in Port Townsend to film “An Officer and a Gentleman,” starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger.
In 1982, the cook-off was permanently moved to the county fairgrounds.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
