A hearty pot of chili will leave your guests satisfied.
Treat your family and friends to some hearty chili at a chili cook-off. Whether your cook-off is an annual event or a one-time celebration, it can bring together those closest to you to enjoy some good food and good times. Incorporate some activities into your event to keep the pace moving.
Cook-Off Rules
As its name implies, the chili cook-off challenges your guests to make their best batch of chili and put it up against everyone else's in a friendly competition. Establish some rules for your cook-off before the event. For example, will you have different categories of chili -- mild, medium and hot? Who will judge the event? You can have a panel of judges or let everyone at the party vote on their favorite. What's the grand prize?
Side Dishes
While chili is a tasty treat alone, you can make your cook-off menu even more enticing by offering up some sides. A basket full of fresh cornbread pairs well with chili. For those who like a little heat on their chili, slice up some chili and jalapeno peppers for them to top their chili with. Also, set up bowls full of shredded cheese and sour cream as chili toppings. And, don't forget drinks -- have plenty of water on hand in case the chili is too hot for some guests' palates.
Setup
Determine how many cook-off entrants you'll have at your event, which will help you set up your space well. Have small card tables set up for each chili entry. Include signs on each table with the entrant's name or the name of their chili. Set up one table for your guests or judges to cast their vote for the best chili. If you're giving out awards, you can set them up on a nearby table as well.
Entertainment
Although most of your guests will spend their time moving from chili entry to chili entry, you should provide some additional entertainment as well. Set up a playlist on your MP3 player to add some music to your event. If you are inviting children to , have some activities set up just for them. A cornhole set can provide hours of outdoor entertainment for children and adults alike, for example.
Tags: your event, your guests, chili entry, their chili, your cook-off