400 Cooks Gather for World's Championship Chili Cookoff

Omaha World-Herald ^ | October 6, 2005 | Jane Palmer

[HAL9000]

Omaha's riverfront hosts chili cookoff

The World's Championship Chili Cookoff comes to the Omaha riverfront Friday through Sunday.

About 400 cooks fire up their stoves and simmer fiery chili peppers and chili powder to see who can make the best bowl of chili.

The audience gets to participate, too, tasting the chili, voting for people's choice chili awards and joining on-stage competitions.

Most of the action is Saturday and Sunday at Lewis & Clark Landing, where tents will shelter the cooking stations and regional bands on stage. Area restaurants get in the spirit with a cooking competition of their own, complete with samples for the public.

Competitors seek more than the bragging rights that come with winning. First prize for the best red chili is $25,000. The best green chili brings $3,000 and the best salsa, $1,000.

All competitors are already winners, having won a state or regional chili cookoff.

[snip]

This is the first time the chili cookoff has come to the Midwest. The International Chili Society sponsors the contest and recent world championships have been in such locales as Reno and Las Vegas.

The first chili cookoff was held in 1967 on a desolate ranch in Terlingua, Texas. Racing legend Carroll Shelby coordinated the event, which featured just two competitors.

Now the International Chili Society has thousands of members worldwide.

[HAL9000]

International Chili Society: www.chilicookoff.com

[digger48]

NO FAIR!!! The first prize for green chili is only $3000??and the red is 25000?

I,ve never had a red that could outdo my green. IMHO

[motormouth]

Whats green chili?

MM

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Went on a sampling spree once at a chili cook off. I got burned twice for my efforts. :>)

[AlaninSA]

I can send you a recipe if you like. Green chile stew is far superior to "chili."

Mine uses onions, serrano and poblano peppers, chicken stock, garlic and about a pound of pork.

Let it simmer for a few hours and then serve it over cornbread.

FANTASTIC!

[digger48]

Basically, mine is mild green chili's, burger, onion, garlic, and pinto beans. with some cheese on top and a tortilla or fried bread......yum, yum, gotta git me sum

[HAL9000]

According to the International Chili Society -

Chili should look appetizing. Reddish brown is generally accepted as good. Chili is not yellow or green.

[motormouth]

Id appreciate it!!

Thank you!!

MM

[ShadowDancer]

God, I love chili. And it's like 400 degrees below zero here now so that just sounds perfect.

[newfrpr04]

Are you willing to part with receipe?

Need a new chili for Halloween Party Neighborhood block party.We have 6 neighbors who gather every year in garage with huge party/drinks passing out candy. THis year we are having a chili cookoff contest.

[Temple Owl]

I don't know if this is simply an urban legend, but I recall a story about a chili cook-off years ago in Texas.
The contestant who won was ordered to give the judges his recipe.
It was open two cans of Hormel Chili, heat and serve.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Chili verde, as opposed to chili colorado. Love them green chilies with huevos, mucho gusto.

[motormouth]

LOL

Ive only had your run off the mill red chili... :o(

MM

[newfrpr04]

I'd like your recipe. We have so many saturday/sunday footballs games, need to make one dish type meals

[AlaninSA]

6 - 8 fresh long green chiles, roasted, peeled, seeds removed and cut into coarse chunks

1 medium onion, chopped fine

3 to 5 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp cumin

1 lb pork stew meat, cubed

Juice of 1/2 lime

2 cups chicken stock

1 tblsp olive oil

Instructions:

Heat Dutch oven or medium saucepan over high. Saute onion, garlic, and cumin until onion is clear. Add green chiles, saute and stir. Add pork cubes and stir to cover all sides of the pork; add lime juice and mix.

Add chicken stock, stopping when most of the pork cubes are covered with liquid. Stir well, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and set the timer for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add additional stock as needed. My wife and I like it to be kind of thin, as the stock takes on the flavor and is great when soaked into cornbread

Serve over fresh, hot cornbread.

Recipe stolen, improved not at all entirely my own.

[motormouth]

YUM!!

Thanks!!!

MM

[digger48]

I really just kinda wing it.

For every lb of meat, I use 2-3 small cans green chilis(I buy them whole and chop them myself for bigger pieces)1 can of pintos, and onion, garlic, salt and pepper to taste.

Fry up the meat, onion, garlic, revel in the smell,

add the others and simmer to consistency(sometimes got to add a little water)

A few hotter green peppers can be added if you like it that way

[digger48]

I do a mean Huevos with green chile sauce too

[nomorelurker]

Sorry Folks something green has nothing on a bowl of Red. Hint it's the spice (s) and meat (all kinds) (no Buffalo tastes like dog food). I've won some contests Ok the wife did.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"I do a mean Huevos with green chile sauce too"

Was down to Los Algodones BC Mexico last week and had that for breakfast, was great.

Will you share any secrets as to your meanness? :>)