Cook-off facts for kids
A cook-off is a fun cooking contest! People compete by making their best dishes. Judges or even the public then taste them to pick a winner. Cook-offs are great for finding out whose recipe for a certain food, like chili, is the very best.
Chili Cook-offs
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A chili cook-off is a special event where people make their own unique chili con carne recipes. They then let others taste them. These events can be small, friendly get-togethers to share food. Or they can be huge contests with official judges and big prizes for the winners!
Two big groups organize chili cook-offs: The Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) and The International Chili Society (ICS).
The CASI helps organize over 550 chili cook-offs each year. These events raise more than $1,000,000 for different charities! CASI also runs the yearly Terlingua International Chili Championship.
The ICS also organizes many chili cook-offs to raise money for good causes. Their events are very large. They have regional contests that thousands of people join. They also host a "World Championship" cook-off every October. The ICS has raised millions of dollars for charity. They also give out hundreds of thousands of dollars to the winners.
Since the 1970s, many towns have hosted their own chili cook-offs. This led to another "World Championship" cook-off in Terlingua, Texas.
In the UK, the UK Chilli Cook-off Association organizes events to raise money. Their big final contest happens at the Upton Cheyney Chili Festival. Winners from this event can go on to compete in the World Food Championships Chili Cookoff.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic that started in 2020, many chili cook-offs were canceled. Some even moved online to be virtual events.
Famous Chili Cook-offs
- Chilympiad in San Marcos, Texas (held from 1970 to 2002)
- Lone Star Chili Cook-off in New York City
Ribfests
A ribfest is a type of cook-off where people compete to make the best pork ribs. It's a popular event for barbecue lovers!
Famous Ribfests
- Canada's Largest Ribfest in Burlington, Ontario
- Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off in Sparks, Nevada
- London Ribfest in London, Ontario
- Toronto Ribfest in Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canada's largest Halal Barbeque and Fast Food Truck Festival in Toronto, Ontario
