Dick's Chili World: 2009-12-13

Thursday, December 17, 2009

THURSDAY - Dec. 17, 2009

UPDATE ON SOUTH FLORIDA COOKOFFS

Hi Everybody,

As some of you may know, due to the economy Doug & Carolyn Roy have been having problems getting sponsorship for their terrific Florida State Cookoff, held the last several years over in the Tampa area. With their blessings, a group down here in South Florida has been doing some due diligence, to see if we could find the cookoff a new home/sponsorship.

I have some tentative (good) news on the subject, plus some additional information on other events in the area which I want to share with the group. The purpose here is to provide a "heads up" for cooks who may want to do some medium range planning.

First on the Florida State Cookoff: a group in the Upper Keys (that is the northern third of the Florida Keys) contacted me about wanting to revive the chili cookoff in the Keys. I told them that was an outstanding idea, given all the positive inputs I had received at the World Championship from cooks who told me how much they missed the cookoff; however, I also mentioned to the potential organizers, that we would most likely have to start with a District Cookoff (or perhaps back-to-back Districts).

In order to try and make it a World Qualifier, I contacted Doug again and he said that he would gladly give up the State Cookoff sanction, if someone was prepared to keep it alive. I then contacted Carol (Hancock), who said that by all means we should do all we can to save the State Cookoff, especially since Doug has approved.

The folks in the Keys have tentatively selected the weekend of March 13^th & 14^th for the cookoff(s) – Florida State Cookoff, and perhaps a District on Sunday (there is also a long shot for a second World Qualifier, but too early to go there); however, there is still a lot of work to be done. My gut tells me that it has a good chance of happening, so I wanted to get the word out for cooks to at least think about it.

After doing some research, I saw that the Gulf Coast Regional at St George Island up in the Florida Panhandle is historically held the first weekend in March. I also know that is a very popular and well attended cookoff (Marshall & I have not been involved because it is quite a haul from here – 10+ hours by car each way).

Well…assuming that 2010 follows the historical pattern, it could conceivably make one heck of a nice Florida vacation in March (with some of our prettiest weather)…A vacation that would include World Qualifier cookoffs as bookends.

Start at the Florida Panhandle and St George Island with their gorgeous beaches, a leisurely trip down the state - Disney World in Orlando, St Augustine & the Space Center on the East Coast, lots of places on the West Coast, the Everglades – and wind up at the unique (and beautiful) Florida Keys; "it doesn't get any better than that!" No, I am not in the travel industry, but it sure sounds like a heck of a nice vacation.

In closing; new subject:

In speaking with Robert Trepp, who put on the terrific back-to-back Acreage Regional Cookoffs up near West Palm Beach last year (and who also brought us "The Chili Chicks" for the 2009 World Championship in Charleston), he told me that he has set the dates for 2010. He has scheduled the cookoffs for April 24^th & 25^th- mark your calendars; these are outstanding cookoffs and "super cook friendly", just ask anybody who was there in 2009.

That's it for now; I'll keep everybody posted,

Sergei Kowalchik

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Sunday, December 13, 2009

SATURDAY - Dec. 12, 2009

Rhode Island State Championship

For Immediate Release: December 8, 2009

Media Contacts:

Leslie Lindeman, Show Promotions, (401) 624-2828

Mary Wall, Show Manager, (508) 889-8113, mwall@planaheadevents-provmetro.com

Inaugural Winter Chili-Festival Set to Take Place in Providence

Local Charities to Benefit

Warm up on a cold winter day at the inaugural Winter Chili-Festival at the Rhode Island Convention Center on February 27, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. An exciting new family event is coming to Providence. The entire 5^th floor of the convention center will become a chili lover's paradise guaranteed to warm up all who attend on a cold mid-winter day.

Attendees will sample a delicious variety of chili recipes prepared by local and regional chefs. They will then vote for their favorite in the People's Choice Competition. In addition, cooks, several of whom are world champions, compete for the Second Annual Rhode Island State Championship title in International Chili Society's (ICS) Cook-Off. Some of the ICS cooks will also participate in the People's Choice Competition allowing the public an opportunity to taste their award winning creations.

Culinary demonstrations, a chili pepper eating contest, chili cook-offs, a silent auction, a children's play area, and a tailgate lounge with adult beverages and sports on large screen televisions, are sure to please people of all ages. The exhibit hall will feature displays and merchants selling spicy treats, useful cooking utensils, chili-themed apparel and much more.

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Children under 12 are admitted free.

The Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center of Warwick and other local charities will benefit from the ticket proceeds. The Trudeau Center was established in the 1960's to promote an enhanced quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Text Box: Cabot Creamery has signed on as a Festival Food Sponsor. They will be distributing cheese samples, which participants can use as chili toppers. Best known as makers of "The World's Best Cheddar," Cabot is owned by 1200 dairy farm families located throughout New England and upstate New York. The Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919.