Lone Star Chili Cook-off facts for kids

The Texas Chili Cook-off is a super fun yearly event where people compete to make the best chili! It happens every May in New York City. This exciting contest is put on by a group called the 'New York Texas Exes'. They are former students from the University of Texas at Austin who now live in New York. All the money raised from the Cook-off helps fund scholarships for students.

History of the Chili Cook-off

The very first Texas Chili Cook-off took place in 1994. Back then, fewer than 100 people attended, and only 8 teams entered the chili competition.

Today, this event is much bigger! More than 1,500 people come to watch and taste the chili. About 36 teams now compete, and there are 9 judges who are food experts. Many people think the 2013 Cook-off was the most exciting one yet!

There was no cook-off in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Competing Teams and Prizes

Teams at the Cook-off can have up to five members. Each team must make 5 gallons of chili to share with everyone at the event.

The top three teams win prizes. There's also a special "People's Choice" award. All the prizes are cases of Shiner Bock beer. This beer is usually hard to find in New York City!

Here are the prizes:

• 1st Place - 2 cases of Shiner Bock
• 2nd Place - 1 case of Shiner Bock
• 3rd Place - ½ case of Shiner Bock (12 pack)
• Best Presentation - ½ case of Shiner Bock (12 pack) - This award started in 2011.
• Best Restaurant Chili - ½ case of Shiner Bock (12 pack) - This award also started in 2011.
• People's Choice - ½ case of Shiner Bock (12 pack)

How the Chili is Judged

A group of nine judges decides which chili is the best. All the judges are professionals who work in the food industry.

The teams are split into three groups, with nine teams in each group. Three judges taste the chili from each group. The top three teams from each group then move on to the final round. In the final, all nine judges taste and score each chili.

Judges score the chili based on these things:

• Color
• Heat (how spicy it is)
• Texture (how it feels in your mouth)
• Flavor/Taste

Past Winners

Here are some of the past winners of the Texas Chili Cook-off:

• 2013
  • First Place - Red Hot Chili Peppers
• 2012
  • First Place - Austin Chili Limits
  • Second Place - Come and Take It Chili Co
  • Third Place - Dog's Mustache Chili Co.
  • People's Choice - Soy Caliente
  • Team Presentation - Chili con Blarney
• 2011
  • First Place - WildER Turkeys
  • Second Place - T Love and Special Sauce
  • Third Place - Dog's Mustache Chili Co.
  • People's Choice - WildER Turkeys
  • Team Presentation - T Love and Special Sauce
• 2010
  • First Place - Whaley Hot
  • Second Place - More Cowbell
  • Third Place (tie) - Austin Chili Limits/Big Tex & the Southern Sweethearts
  • People's Choice - WildER Turkey's