A question about the Phoenix Hill Chili Cookoff

Our BBQ team (The Rolling Bones) is considering branching off into other areas of competition cooking...I seem to recall that the Phoenix Hill Chili Cookoff is a pretty big deal. Can anyone give me more info (Marsha, etc) ? More than anything else I would like to know if the judging is "blind" or if this one of those "stacked deck" events where people pack the ballot boxes.

Our BBQ team (The Rolling Bones) is considering branching off into other areas of competition cooking...I seem to recall that the Phoenix Hill Chili Cookoff is a pretty big deal. Can anyone give me more info (Marsha, etc) ? More than anything else I would like to know if the judging is "blind" or if this one of those "stacked deck" events where people pack the ballot boxes.

I think it is blind. The People's Choice award is separate. Having said that, I remember it being judged by local "celebrities." So a different type of people's choice.

Local celebrity judges determine the trophy and the prizes. People's choice gets some sort of ribbon or trophy, but I'm pretty sure there's a well-entrenched annual ballot-box-stuffing campaign for one team. (they've won people's choice several years in a row). I won third place three years ago, and first place last year.

Local celebrity judges determine the trophy and the prizes. People's choice gets some sort of ribbon or trophy, but I'm pretty sure there's a well-entrenched annual ballot-box-stuffing campaign for one team. (they've won people's choice several years in a row). I won third place three years ago, and first place last year.

Sooooooooo, tell us more about this ballot box stuffing thing. Also, what about samples ? I gather that teams provide free samples but are you also permitted to sell any product ?

Yes, you have to give away at-least-one-ounce samples. It's pretty intense for an hour or two when sampling starts. You give your sample to the judges (blind) just before that.

The ballot-stuffers swipe stacks of people's choice ballots and they and their friends fill them out in their booth, then drop them in big bunches into the ballot box at the info booth - well, that's the lore, anyway.

I've tasted the chili of the people's choice winners every year. It's not the best chili there, it's just a game to them to stuff the ballot box. They always seem to be having a great time. I've always felt like "hey, let them have it."

I still think a forum chili "throwdown" would be cool. Maybe a ProAm thing. I made a batch yesterday that I feel would hold its own in competition.
Steve,your not putting those Jolokias in your chili are you?

I still think a forum chili "throwdown" would be cool. Maybe a ProAm thing. I made a batch yesterday that I feel would hold its own in competition.
Steve,your not putting those Jolokias in your chili are you?

John,

I love hot foods but NO way would I put those things in anything that I was going to eat...they are way to hot for me. I took a small bite out of one the other day, chewed it for about 5 seconds and then spit it out...My mouth was positively on fire. BTW, have you seen any of them ripe ? They are a bright-bright glowing red and even look evil.

Speaking of evil Steve R was out here on Tuesday and picked a half a dozen for a pot of chili he's making for some coworkers. He said they told him his chili was too mild last year, so he was going to kick it up a notch

Yes, you have to give away at-least-one-ounce samples. It's pretty intense for an hour or two when sampling starts. You give your sample to the judges (blind) just before that.

The ballot-stuffers swipe stacks of people's choice ballots and they and their friends fill them out in their booth, then drop them in big bunches into the ballot box at the info booth - well, that's the lore, anyway.

I've tasted the chili of the people's choice winners every year. It's not the best chili there, it's just a game to them to stuff the ballot box. They always seem to be having a great time. I've always felt like "hey, let them have it."

So how much chili does one actually need to make ? Do you have to make it "on site" or can you make it at home and just reheat it ?

Well, after a 1 year hiatus, the chili team I anchor, " 5 Guys Chili" will be making a return for our 9th entry.

We usually make about 8-10 gallons of just regular ole' chili for samples. We normally run out about 3:00PM so we have plenty of time to clean up and relax until results are annouced at 6:00PM or so. Your really not required to sample if you don't want. I usually have a seperate batch for entry. We came in 4th one year and 3rd the next. I don't think I've ever done the same thing twice. For me and my group it's an nice long day of drinking (You can bring your own as a contestant!)and camraderie with each other and folks we only usually see once a year. I've never taken it too seriously and was quite surprised when we actually placed. You are required to make it on the premises. But if your like me, IYou can do all of the prep work ahead and just throw it all together there.

You can sell stuff if you want..But I'm usually in no shape to be handling cash. A guy on our team's wife and mother in law make a nice chunk of change selling grilled cheese and PB&J's and baked goods for like a $1 a piece. They are now the 5 Guy's Chili Ladies Auxiliary. You won't make much selling chili since everyone else is giving it away!

The big draw for me is the Chili Chant which we had won 5 years in a row until last year when we sat out.
Also very popular is the famous Spam Put...Where they draw a target on the street and whose ever Spam is closest wins.....You'd be surprised how serious of a competition this is!

Also the Rock-School bands play in the Roof Garden and that is really cool. Lots of YOUNG kids playing your favorite rock classics! Most of them are quite entertianing.

So come on out, the more the merrier!!!! I will look for you there!

Do you have to make it "on site" or can you make it at home and just reheat it ?

Home division, you have to make it on site. Restaurant division, you can bring it made and tweak it. I do not know the reason for this rule difference, but I sure am glad I'm in the restaurant division!

Dan and Marsha,

Thank you kindly for your replies. So far it doesn't sound like too many hoops to jump through. We're not looking to win anything (just have a good time) but that being said I like to be judged fairly, thus my questions about the judging. We have a BBQ contest the day before the chili cookoff and rather than let a lot of that food go to waste I was considering putting it in a fridge right after it comes off the smoker and then bringing it to the chili cookoff...pork sammichs for a buck, something like that.

BTW, I posed the same questions via email to someone at The Phoenix and still haven't gotten a reply. You guys rock...

Dan,

Ya'll don't wear that nasty black and yellow stuff to the cook off do you ?

Where is the BBQ cookoff? You know I love bbq......

Where is the BBQ cookoff? You know I love bbq......

New Albany...part of their community celebration.

Here are some things from past chili cook-offs .....

Chili Cook Off.jpg

Chili Cook off 2.jpg

And last but not least, one of our WINNING chili chants....

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseacti ... d=20144623