A brief word about the 5/4 - San Francisco Bay Chili Cook Off - hope the organizers put it on again next year! This was a first time event, well, the first time the public was invited taste and compete in this friendly competition for charity. Overall quality was quite good. Some of the most interesting entries were the ones that devoted attention to the texture, seasoning, and smoking of the meat component. None were strictly meat-based served without beans though a few entries had so few beans I had to dig deep to find them. In truth, I and some other judges were a little let down that none of the teams opted for no-beans. Spice levels were lower than we expected also. Everything was tasted blind --- some photos uploaded below.
I appreciated the chance to chat with chowhound chileheads who sought me out in the judging area. Always fun to compare notes with posters and lurkers alike, please stay in touch.
http://sfbaychilicookoff.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/and-you-shall-be-judged/
And the announcement of the winners:
“We had an ethereal mix of sugar & spice Saturday as 27 teams put their flavor on the line at the SF Bay Chili Cook-off. Check out the tastiest as voted by our judges and by you, the discerning public:
Grand Champion Chili, People’s Choice: Team #15, Raise the Root
Runner-up Grand Champion Chili, People’s Choice: Team #13, Wine with Swine
My Sweet Tooth Savior, People’s Choice: Team #14, Maple Creme Caramel with Pig Candy, Bad S BBQ
Runner-up My Sweet Tooth Savior, People’s Choice: Team #20, Chipotle Chocolate Pudding, Bump City Bakery
Chili Most Likely to Have Consequences, People’s Choice: Team #7, Naga Con Carne
Best Texas Style Chili, Judges’ Choice: Team #13, Wine with Swine
Most Creative Chili, Judges’ Choice: Team #7, Naga Con Carne
Sweet Tooth Savior, Judges’ Choice: Team #14, Maple Creme Caramel with Pig Candy, Bad S BBQ
Thanks to everyone who participated! It was a perfect day. See you next year!”
http://sfbaychilicookoff.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/heat-and-sweet-2013-sf-bay-chili-cook-off-champions/
Turns out that I am familiar with two of the winning teams from the BBQ competition circuit. Wine with Swine and Bad S BBQ are both great competitors and excellent cooks all-round. Grand Champion, Raise the Root, has some cool culinary classes ahead, and I’ll be keeping an eye on its website for further developments.
http://raisetheroot.webs.com/
5/25 – Blues, Brews & BBQs, People’s Choice tasting, Streets of Brentwood
http://www.eastcountymarketplace.net/listings/11348122/Brentwood-PAL-presents-Blues-Brews-BBQ-s-at-the-Streets-of-Brentwood-CA-94513
5/25 – March Against Monsanto, Union Square, San Francisco
http://occupysf.org/archives/818
5/25 – Mushrooms from a Bag, Sebastopol
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/374195
5/26 – Tour de Marin
http://www.marinbike.org/Events/TourDeMarin/Index.shtml
5/28 – Designing Urban Agriculture, San Francisco
http://www.spur.org/events/calendar/designing-urban-agriculture
5/30 – Berkeley Dine Out
http://berkeleydineout.com/
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