Chili Cook - Off 2011

2011 WINNERS

Thanks for all of the participation and enthusiasm from the contestants this year - what a great event!

Amateur Division

Judges Award / 1st PLACE: Karen Beers Team #3     $200

Judges Award / 2nd PLACE: Rich Grosch Team #21   $150

Peoples Choice / 1st PLACE: Dara Rexroad / Tiny's Tavern Team #1  $250

Peoples Choice / 2nd PLACE: Doug Mundt Team #15     $150

Peoples Choice / 3rd PLACE: Steve Dohrman Team #19     $100

Non Cash Winners

Best Decoration: Shannon Ellis Team #13

Best 92107 Entry & Hottest Chili: Steve Dohrman Team #19    

2011 Ticket Information

Competition Chili - Over 20 contestants

Buy two tastes for $1 OR Buy one taste from each for only $10!

Each contestant will have ten gallons of chili for tasters.

Committe Chili - Over 60 gallons of regular and vegetarian chili!

Buy a 4oz serving bowl for just $2!

Chili Tickets available starting at 10am and will be sold until the chili is gone.....see you there!

A little about the OB Chili Cook-Off Festival!

In 1984, Ocean Beach had its first Chili Cook-off Festival with  Mike Akey, current President of the OB MainStreet Association, as its founder. Back in the 1970’s, Mike and his father, Angie Scaramuzzo, often traveled to chili cook-offs in Las Vegas, Balboa Island, Cabo San Lucas, and Guadalajara just to mention a few.  Once Mike’s Dad went to the world competition in Rosemond, CA (a ghost town) to compete with his “Scaramuch Chili.”  Angie also founded the Lake Havasu City Chili Cook-Off which is still going on today.

Mike thought about starting a cook-off in OB and finally did in 1984.  For the first 3 years, the chili cook-offs were ICS sanctioned (International Chili Society) and the winner was eligible to go to the State Cook-Off which could have potentially led to the National Cook-Off.   In 1987, Akey and his committee decided to change to an Amateur Cook-Off however they still use the basics from the ICS for judging.

He remembers radio station KSON was one of the long time sponsors of the early OB Cook-Offs.  The Cook-Off also had a Shoot and Holler Contest – basically a shot of tequila and then a shout in the microphone . . . the loudest person got the award.  “We also enjoyed the Mr. Hot Sauce and Miss Chili Pepper Contest during the same time period.  We eventually had to stop that,” said Mike “because it got a little too risqué and was developing into a bikini contest.

In the early days, bales of hay lined part of the 4900 block of Newport Ave. to provide seating for the Chili Cook-Off.  Eventually the OB Chili Cook-Off moved to the OB Pier parking lot but the blacktop was just too hot.  The move to Veteran’s Plaza on the grass really filled the bill and has been the site for our  Cook-Off ever since with over 3 times the number of contestants!

Thanks to Mike Akey and his Dad for founding the OB Chili Cook-Off so that we can all enjoy again this year.

2010 CHILI COOK-OFF WINNERS!

AMATEUR DIVISION:
Judges Award 1st Place: Mark Gottas #22 $200.00 
Judges Award 2nd Place: Matt Lee #23 $150.00 
Peoples Choice 1st Place: Mike McCormick #19 $250.00 
Peoples Choice 2nd Place: Lindsey Roland #26 $150.00     
Peoples Choice 3rd Place: Daniel Miley #14 $100.00
  
RESTAURANT DIVISION:
Restaurant Judge’s Choice 1st Place: Bravo’s #3R $200.00
Restaurant People’s Choice 1st Place: The Vine #2R $250.00

NON CASH WINNERS:
Best Decoration: Kenny & April Rosner #17
Best 92107 Entry: Steve Dohrman  #16
Hottest Chili Award: Gerald Tamashiro #10
Judge’s Special Award: Mike McCormick #19

The Chili Cook-Off is held at the grassy area at the foot of Newport (between Santa
Monica Ave and Newport).

To taste the array of chili samples you may purchase individual taste tickets at our ticket booth (2 servings for $1)  or you may purchase a Peoples Choice ticket for a sample of all the teams of chili for the single price of $10.

If the contestant booths run out of chili, never fear! Shades Oceanfront Bistro and Craves Cafe will also have a booth providing individual bowls of chili (both meat AND vegetarian!) for just $2 per bowl.

So come and sample and enjoy!

The line for the Cook-Off starts at 10am, and the tasting begins at 11am with the sound of the bullhorn.

Presenting the Chili Teams of 2010:

Restaurant Division (4 teams):

Amateur Division (24 teams):

Test your tastebuds and judge alongside the judges!

Chili judging will be based on ICS guidelines for :

• Consistency
• Taste-like chili
• Color-looks like chili
• Smell-good like chili
• Meat (if used -- this is OB, afterall!) – tender

Awards Will Be Presented on the Main Stage in the Pier Parking lot at 3:30 p.m. and present the prizes.

Proceeds from the Chili Cook-Off benefit the July 4th fireworks.