Technically most of the United States has another seven weeks of winter ahead of them. In an attempt to make it through the shortest days and the longest nights we began searching for new chili recipes. Let’s be honest who doesn’t want the pleasure of preparing a large crockpot of chili that can feed you for an entire week or more? In our search for recipes for chili we also happened to uncover a slew of the best chili related events; we’re talking about taking a destination trip to experience a chili cook off or a chili festival. We uncovered chili cook off events high across the mountain ranges of Colorado all the way to the West Coast in colorful San Diego, California.

This past weekend saw the NYChiliFest come and go. If you happened to be in NYC we do hope you made it to Chelsea Market to experience the Chili, Bands & Beer experience that culminated in La Palapa taking home the 2012 Golden Chili Mug trophy. The Brooklyn Star was a close runner-up.

Dickson’s Farmstand Meats supplied each chef with 100% dry-aged, locally-raised beef from Wrighteous Organics in Schoharie, NY, as the base for their chili. In addition to providing a level playing field for the competition, the meat reflects the inspiration of event: to use meat from responsibly-raised animals to create delicious food.

La Palapa seized the trophy in a field that also included 2011 Golden Chili Mug Winner Northern Spy Food Co., a couple of pizza joints that included Co. and Brooklyn’s hottest restaurant – Roberta’s, who served a spicy green chili and a chocolate shop, Mast Brothers Chocolate.

There were plenty of worthy competitors including BBQ favorites – Fatty ’Cue & Fette Sau, Back Forty, whose Brunch menu includes Sweet Potato Pancakes and Bark Hot Dogs, who serve a tasty breakfast sandwich on the weekends.

The competitor roster was rounded out with a wide range of dining establishments including Gramercy Tavern, Beer Table, Cookshop, craftbar, Friedman’s, Jimmy’s No. 43, Mile End, Morris Grilled Cheese, Porchetta/Porsena, Tacombi, Trestle on Tenth and the DUMBO adjacent Vinegar Hill House.

Have no fear, if you missed the NYChilifest we’ve rounded up some of the top chili cook off events for you to plan ahead.

Notable North American Chili Festivals, Cook-Offs, Events, Competitions etc;

Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest – June 8-9, 2012

33rd Annual OB (Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA) Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off Festival- June 23, 2012

Hatch Valley, New Mexico Chile Festival – September 1-2, 2012

The Great Miller Lite, Chili Cook-Off aka The Atlanta Chili Cook-Off – September 29, 2012

Mt. Crested Butte, CO also hosts The Annual Mt. Crested Butte Fall Festival of Beers & Chili Cook-Off in September. The 2012 date is still TBD.

For further Chili related news and to view the Cookoff Calendar visit the ICS | International Chili Society.

 


Don Hielo has 184 post(s) on Epicure Me | Curated Consumption for a Tasteful Lifestyle