Fairfield chili cook-off is more about family than winning

The inaugural Fairfield Farmers Market Chili Cookoff may give the winners bragging rights, but it’s really about family, said the market’s manager.

Contestants must sign up their chili recipes online by Oct. 8 for the Oct. 9 contest at the weekly farmers market, said market manager Kari Russo.

“This is something I really wanted to try to accomplish last year because my goal for the market is to create community,” she said. “I see this chili cook-off as a pot luck. I see it as an opportunity for folks to come down and share food.”

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Butler Tech culinary arts program instructor and chili cook-off judge Tyler Simpson said he likes the competition "because I think everybody's family chili is just a little bit different."

Family recipes from the Northeast tend to have fillers, like beans, in their chili, and western chili styles are heartier and beefier. Then there’s the Cincinnati-style chili, which is based in Greek roots.

“Chili is a wide variety of things depending on what family you came from, so I think there could be a lot of different variety and some really good samples to try,” Russo said.

The judging panel, which also includes Mayor Steve Miller and Fairfield Fire Chief Don Bennett, aren't the only ones sampling the chili, said Russo. The public will be able to try the chili and vote. The public vote will be included in the entrants' total scores, according to the cook-off rules.

There are no fees to enter and participate, but entrants must be pre-registered. There will be no fees to try the chili made in the home kitchens of the participants. Four types of chili are to be judged: spicy and mild beef dishes and spicy and mild vegetarian dishes.

SIGN UP HERE: Think your chili recipe is a winner? Enter the inaugural Fairfield Farmers Market Chili Contest here.

CONTEST RULES: Here are the rules for the inaugural Fairfield Farmers Market Chili Cook-off

There are several rules for the contest, such as no store-bought chili is allowed, it must be pre-cooked and ready to eat when bought to the market (there will be electrical outlets for Crockpots), and serving utensils are not provided.

Russo, who took over managing the market last year, said the farmers market is always evolving, and the design is “all focused on the community.”

“Food is a central component to celebration, it’s a central component to any kind of gathering, and that’s how I kind of see this,” she said.

All entered chilis must be on-site by 5:30 p.m. Oct. 9, and the cook-off will start at 5:45 p.m. Patron sampling will go until 7 p.m.

HOW TO ENTER

What: Inaugural Fairfield Farmers Market Chili Cook-off

When: Registration deadline Oct. 8, contest day Oct. 9 (entries on-site by 5:30 p.m.)

Where: Fairfield's Village Green Park

More info: For rules and signup info, visit tinyurl.com/FairfieldFarmersMarket

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About the Author

Michael D. Pitman

Michael D. Pitman has been a reporter in southwest Ohio since 1999. He's covered local governments in Warren and Butler counties, as well as state and national issues. He currently covers the cities of Fairfield and Hamilton.