Cooking Contests: Chili

A chili contest, or cook-off, is a type of cooking competition where contestants prepare similar dishes for judging either by a select group of judges or by the general public. Contestants can be amateurs chili cooks, restaurants chefs, or professional competitors. The purpose of these events serves as a way to decide which cook has developed the best recipe for a particular dish. This type of competitive community event is especially popular across the Midwest and Southwest and features a spicy stew made of red or green peppers, onions, garlic, and spices, which are often adapted to regional tastes. For example, in the Midwest, kidney beans are added and the spices are toned down.