chili coma

An update from this past weekend is clearly in order.  Thanks first off to all those who came to the NY Chili Cookoff! It was great seeing so many of our friends come help us out, cheer us on, and pose as strangers to rave about our chili in line :) The turnout for this years cookoff was HUGE. From 12-3pm we had a continuous line to taste our chili, and ended up getting information from four separate people who want to work something out where they buy our chili.  I see a catering business in my future...

Prize-wise we didnt win any chili categories, but we DID win second place for best booth/showmanship, so I'll take it.  We learned a lot actually cooking two chili's during the cookoff. It takes a lot more organization that even we realized, and we came away with a better game plan for the DC 101 Chili Cookoff that we are competing in on May 12th. While we were clearly upset that we didn't place in the chili categories, we did see some flaws in the chili that are going to be fixed for May.  We're changing up our recipe a little, which means more test batches will need to be made.  I might seriously enter into a chili coma...

So here is the first shout out to all those in the DC / Maryland area - PLEASE get tickets for the DC 101 Chili Cookoff!! It's a really fun time every year, and we can definitely use your help and support! A huge concert follows the cookoff - this year the headliners so far are Cake and Incubus.  Eat a lot of chili, drink a lot of beer, listen to music - what could be better?

Calling all New York and New Jersey'ers...

Maryland MANS Chili has officially been accepted to the New York Cookoff, being held on Saturday April 21.  Anyone and everyone can be there should come by to support our team and sample some delicious chili.  It's from 12-4pm in Staten Island in Old Richmondtown, rain or shine (but hopefully no rain). It should be a really fun event - it's our first year entering this one so I don't know many details, but you're guaranteed to taste many delicious chilis and have a great day - there'll be music and entertainment set up as well. But clearly you should come to support our team and help us win the People's Choice award among the other awards we plan on winning. It will be exciting for our team since this will be the first time that we are competing in the ICS chili competition, making the red and green chili on site.

Click here for more information and details.

Hope to see you all there! 

charter chilihead

As chili cookoffs are rapidly approaching, I'm spending each weekend making test batches of chili in preparation.  This weekend was the first time attempting to make both red and green chili at the same time, both with a 3 hour time frame from start to finish.  We are getting there flavor wise for our chili. Wondering what it tastes like? Well - you can taste it yourself! While I am still waiting for the official confirmation, everyone should plan on attending the New York Chili Cookoff on April 21st in Staten Island and support our team.  Here is a picture of my official scroll, proclaiming me a chili head:

I'll be back to posting recipes this week. I've been lazy, I know - I'll be better :)

get excited...

It's arrived! I am now a legitimate member of the International Chili Society.  I received my bylaws, a proclamation proclaiming me a "Charter Chilihead", and a membership card in the mail. Yes, I'm that awesome.  So what does being a member of ICS entail? It means that now, when our amazing chili cook off team, Maryland MANS Chili, enters into competitions, if we happen to win a competition we are guaranteed entry into the World Championship Chili Cook-off.

We are expanding the amount of cook-offs that we enter - in addition to the DC 101 Chili Cookoff that we are competing in May 12th, we are also entering into the New York Chili Cookoff, which will be held in glorious Staten Island on Saturday April 21st.   We are entering into the red chili, green chili, and salsa competitions.  I encourage you all to come and support our team! It should be a fun day, filled with chili, chili, and more chili!

So far we've tried out making our first batch of green chili. While it wasn't perfect, I think it's a winner and see great things for it. Anyone who wants to come down to Bay Ridge and be a chili taster you let me know...

its almost that time of year...

My favorite day of the year is rapidly approaching. What day is that? The DC 101 Chili Cookoff my friends.  For those of you who don't know I am part of an amazing chili team, aptly named Maryland MANS Chili (for Michael, Alexis, Nicole & Steve).  We've competed for a few years now, with life getting in the way every other year making it so we can't make it. But this year we will be there.  Last time we competed we placed 5th place overall - this year it's time for us to make it to the stage for an award.

This weekend starts the beginning of making test batches of chili. We'll see if I am willing to post the final recipe on the blog at a later date (it's not a decision I am able to make on my own...there are people I must consult with). In any went I'll let you know how each batch goes.  In anticipation, today I became an actual card-holding member of the International Chili Society. Now we can not only compete in the people's choice chili, but also salsa and chili verde.  I can't wait to get my card and scroll in the mail. Expect to see pictures...