Boardwalk Digs Into Chili

This Saturday, you can join 20 VIP community judges—including Kevin Vogel, Santa Cruz's interim police chief; Dannettee Shoemaker, city Parks and Recreation director; and Erik Carter, director of Cabrillo College Culinary Arts—in determining who will win the chili cook-off competition.

Chili cook-offs are popular events, and the Boardwalk decided to join the fun by sponsoring the event with other local merchants.

"The Clam Chowder Festival in February has always been very successful, and it's a lot of fun," said Brigid Fuller, communications manager for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. "So we decided to try another similar, off-season event. We like doing things like this when we are slower and have more space for it."

There are four judging categories: amateur red chili, amateur vegetarian red chili, professional red chili and professional vegetarian red chili. Professionals are considered those who prepare food for others, such as cooks or chefs at restaurants, universities and corporate kitchens. There will be around 50 teams, 12 of which are professionals.

The competition has strict rules, including the definition of the red and red vegetarian chili. Both are defined as any combination of spices and ingredients cooked with red chili peppers, plus the addition of meat for the red chili. Either type can contain beans and/or pasta.

Amateur cooks must make at least 3 gallons of chili. The minimum for the pros is 7 gallons.

Judges—in blind tastings—will judge the chili based on flavor, color and consistency, and points will be awarded for each category.

If you're a chili lover and possibly a connoisseur of the hearty concoction, here's your chance to get your fill while helping decide who will grab the top prizes. As a judge, and for the $8 fee, you'll get five 2-ounce servings of chili and a ballot to cast your vote.

Besides first-, second- and third-place awards for amateurs and professionals, other prizes include People's Choice, Most Tasted and Most Original. Teams can win from $250 to $500. Each team also receives two T-shirts and two all-day unlimited ride passes to the Boardwalk.

The event goes on, rain or shine, so have your slicker or your flip-flops ready and head down to the Boardwalk to see for yourself who will be the winners of this first annual Beach Boardwalk chili cook-off.

If you go ...

What: Chili Cook-off

When: Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: Free admission; for a tasting kit, $8 (includes five taste tickets, spoon, cup and People's Choice voting ballot)

Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Schedule:

Preparation period (no heat): 9 to 10 a.m.

Cooking period: 10 to 1 p.m.

Tasting kits go on sale: 10 a.m.

Public tasting begins: 1 p.m.

Winners announced in beach amphitheater: 4 p.m.

Coming Wednesday: Linda Covella will taste and vote, too, so be sure to check back here next week to read how it all went down in her Epicurious column.