Photo by Pam Dudding
Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
On a cold winter day, there is nothing more satisfying than a bowl of steaming hot chili with a side of homemade cornbread.
The Craig Valley Baptist Church is hosting its 5th Annual Church Community Chili Cook-Off to encourage people to get their crockpots out and start cooking.
The community is also invited to join in.
“Besides the competition, there will be a great free meal for people to enjoy,” organizer Rich Martindell shared. “Anyone can come and eat chili and participate in the voting. The only thing you need to bring is your appetite!”
There will be free hotdogs available, along with drinks and desserts. Also, cornbread and the usual chili accoutrements will be there.
The guidelines are:
- Each church may enter up to five chilis for the competition
- Each chili will be presented for tasting on tables in the competition area
- Upon entering the competition area, everyone will be given a voting ticket
- You will be able to taste the chilis at your own pace
- Place your ticket in the container by the chili you judge as the best
The chili with the most tickets will be deemed the champion, and the next two in second and third place.
In the event of a tie, such as they had last year, a mini re-tasting will be held by those present, with the chilis involved in the tie (with new vote tickets distributed).
“The Championship Trophy Cup will go to the church of the winning chili cook-off chef, to be displayed until the next chili cook-off in 2024,” organizer Richard Martindell shared. “There will also be individual trophies given to the top three chili cook-off chefs.”
The contest time will start at 5 p.m. and be completed by 7 p.m.
Their hopes are to have many participants to enter this year in this fun and tasty event.
The competition will be held at the church on 171 Salem Avenue (on Route 311 across from The Park), in New Castle. Those who are attending may enter the side door on the left side of the church.
To enter the contest, or to ask questions, contact the church and leave a message at (540) 864-5667 or visit their website at http://www.craigvalleybaptist.com.
“The real goal of the cook-off is to encourage churches in the area to do things together and have a good, spirited competition and Christian camaraderie,” Martindell said. “As you know, there are some really good chili chefs in Craig County’s churches.”