14th ANNUAL CHILI INFERNO COOK-OFF
The name says it all! Local and surrounding restaurants, cooking schools, personal chefs and citizens share their cooking skills and favorite recipes. Local celebrity judges sample each of the categories which include traditional red, green, vegetarian, and inferno chilis, as well as salsas. Bring the family to the Boulder Creek Hometown Fair this Labor Day weekend and enjoy some of the best–and hottest!–chili in Colorado at the 14th Annual Chili Inferno Cook-Off!
Monday, Sept. 5 (Labor Day) from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: 13th Street in downtown Boulder.
Cost: $1 per sample, or 7 samples for $5. One ticket = One sample. Tickets will be available for purchase at the Chili Inferno Cook-Off Ticket Booth, located at the corner of 13th Street & Canyon.
History
The Chili Inferno Cook-Off first began in 1983 as the Chili Ole, a participant of the ICS (International Chili Society). At that time, the Chili Ole was held at the Harvest House, now known as the Millennium Hotel, located on 28th Street. It remained at that location until 1998, when it moved to Canyon Boulevard and became a favorite event of the Hometown Fair, produced by Boulder Creek Events. Boulder Creek Events has kept the cook-off going, changing the name to the Chili Inferno Cook-Off in 1999.
2011 Chili Inferno Celebrity Judges:
- Jane Brautigam, Boulder City Manager
- Tom Brock, Brock Publishing CEO
- Larry Donner, Boulder Fire Chief
- Liz Kritza, University of Colorado Head Volleyball Coach
- Dave Lowrey, Boulder Fire Marshal
- Mark Megibow, Beat-Box Artist with Local All-Vocal Rock Group “Face”
- Susan Osborne, Boulder Mayor
- Eric Skokan, Black Cat Head Chef
Participating in the Cook-Off
There are two divisions in the Chili Inferno Cook-Off:
- Professional (Restaurants, Cooking Schools, Chefs/Caterers): $100.00
- Citizens: FREE!
Participants may enter as many categories as they wish. Within each division, the categories include:
- Traditional Red Chili
- Green Chili or White Chili
- Vegetarian Chili
- Inferno Chili (Hottest!)
- Salsa
Fees include:
- Tent space (10’ x 10’ area and canopy), tables, chairs, and electricity. Spoons, cups, napkins, and tortilla chips will also be provided.
Quantity of chili/salsa to prepare:
For judging, participants must provide enough chili and/or salsa for a 32 oz. bowl for each category entered.
Cooks will also need to provide enough chili/salsa to provide samples for the general public for the duration of the event. In past years, we have requested 5-7 gallons of chili/salsa but chefs have always run out well before the end of the cook-off, and we’ve had to close the event early. Therefore, this year, we’re requesting 10-12 gallons of chili/salsa per contestant. We do understand that this is quite a large quantity, so we are understanding if chefs would prefer to make less.
Advertising & Publicity:
In addition to the advertising done by Boulder Creek Events for the Hometown Fair, restaurants, cooking schools, personal chefs and citizens are encouraged to promote themselves independently of the event.
Awards:
- First, second, and third place ribbons will be awarded to each category in each division.
- People’s Choice Awards!
- A grand prize trophy will be awarded to the first place winner in each division.
- There will be an award for Best Decorations/Team Spirit.
- Prize winners will also be mentioned by the Daily Camera in the event coverage.
- GRAND PRIZE AWARD for the Citizens Division = $200!
Deadline:
The deadline to enter the Chili Inferno Cook-off is Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011.
If you are interested in being a participant in the Chili Inferno Cook-Off, please download and fill out the Chili Inferno Application and submit to BCE by no later than 9/1/11.
Congratulations to our 2010 Winners!
PROFESSIONAL DIVISION
TRAD. RED CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose
GREEN CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose
RUNNER-UP = Serranos
VEGETARIAN CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose
RUNNER-UP = Citizen John Crosse
SALSA: WINNER = Roma Melrose’s Salsa Verde
RUNNER-UP = Roma’s Roja Salsa
3rd PLACE = Serranos’ Mango Salsa
CITIZENS DIVISION
TRAD. RED CHILI: WINNER = Jon Wisniewski
RUNNER-UP = Randy Ross
3rd PLACE = Erin Poyle
SALSA: WINNER = Sara Wells
RUNNER-UP = Amy McComb
3rd PLACE = Randy Ross
GRAND PRIZE (Citizens) = Gordon Smith
INFERNO CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose (Pro)
RUNNER-UP = Jon Wisniewski (Citizen)
3rd PLACE = Serranos (Pro)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
BEST CHILI (PROFESSIONAL): Roma Melrose
BEST CHILI (CITIZEN): Gordon Smith
BEST SALSA (PROFESSIONAL): Roma Melrose
BEST SALSA (CITIZEN): Sara Wells
BEST TEAM SPIRIT (PROFESSIONAL): Serranos
BEST TEAM SPIRIT (CITIZEN): Randy Ross
PROFESSIONAL DIVISION
TRAD. RED CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose
GREEN CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose
RUNNER-UP = Serranos
VEGETARIAN CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose
RUNNER-UP = Citizen John Crosse
SALSA: WINNER = Roma Melrose’s Salsa Verde
RUNNER-UP = Roma’s Roja Salsa
3rd PLACE = Serranos’ Mango Salsa
CITIZENS DIVISION
TRAD. RED CHILI: WINNER = Jon Wisniewski
RUNNER-UP = Randy Ross
3rd PLACE = Erin Poyle
SALSA: WINNER = Sara Wells
RUNNER-UP = Amy McComb
3rd PLACE = Randy Ross
GRAND PRIZE (Citizens) = Gordon Smith
INFERNO CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose (Pro)
RUNNER-UP = Jon Wisniewski (Citizen)
3rd PLACE = Serranos (Pro)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
BEST CHILI (PROFESSIONAL): Roma Melrose
BEST CHILI (CITIZEN): Gordon Smith
BEST SALSA (PROFESSIONAL): Roma Melrose
BEST SALSA (CITIZEN): Sara Wells
BEST TEAM SPIRIT (PROFESSIONAL): Serranos
BEST TEAM SPIRIT (CITIZEN): Randy Ross
PROFESSIONAL DIVISION
TRAD. RED CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose
GREEN CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose
RUNNER-UP = Serranos
VEGETARIAN CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose
RUNNER-UP = Citizen John Crosse
SALSA: WINNER = Roma Melrose’s Salsa Verde
RUNNER-UP = Roma’s Roja Salsa
3rd PLACE = Serranos’ Mango Salsa
CITIZENS DIVISION
TRAD. RED CHILI: WINNER = Jon Wisniewski
RUNNER-UP = Randy Ross
3rd PLACE = Erin Poyle
SALSA: WINNER = Sara Wells
RUNNER-UP = Amy McComb
3rd PLACE = Randy Ross
GRAND PRIZE (Citizens) = Gordon Smith
INFERNO CHILI: WINNER = Roma Melrose (Pro)
RUNNER-UP = Jon Wisniewski (Citizen)
3rd PLACE = Serranos (Pro)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
BEST CHILI (PROFESSIONAL): Roma Melrose
BEST CHILI (CITIZEN): Gordon Smith
BEST SALSA (PROFESSIONAL): Roma Melrose
BEST SALSA (CITIZEN): Sara Wells
BEST TEAM SPIRIT (PROFESSIONAL): Serranos
BEST TEAM SPIRIT (CITIZEN): Randy Ross
