There have been chili cook-offs in Lakefield before, with lots of chili to taste and a prize or two to win, but the inaugural Emerald Valley-Lakefield Kiwanis Chili Cook-off set for Saturday will be something entirely different.
“This is our first ever Emerald Valley-Lakefield Kiwanis Chili Cook-off,” said Kiwanian Larry Lavin. “It will take place at Emerald Valley Golf Course this Saturday, Nov. 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., just in time for the big football game between the University of Iowa and the University of Minnesota. So we are inviting everyone to come out sample some of the great chili recipes, help determine a winner and watch the big game.”
This chili cook-off is open to the public, Lavin said, so anyone who comes out for the chili will receive a ballot upon which to vote for his or her favorite.
“We will have between 15 to 20 chilies to sample,” Lavin said. “The chilies will be cooked at the participants’ homes and brought out for sampling and the judging on Saturday. Each participant is to bring a crock-pot full of their chili to Emerald Valley for sampling in the contest.”
Those taking part in the chili cook-off will have the opportunity to put their best chili recipe up against others and will have a good chance at winning hundreds of dollars worth of prizes.
For a small fee, people can come out sample all the chili they can taste, and — for a small additional charge — enjoy an endless mug of root beer too. There will also be adult beverages available.
Winners in the Emerald Valley- Lakefield Kiwanis Chili Cook-off will be determined by a panel of judges, whose choices will be 50 percent of the vote, with the other 50 percent coming from the votes of the people.
“There will be a people’s choice award from the vote of the general public as to their favorite chili and an overall winner as determined by the judges along with the vote of those in the general public sampling the chili,” Lavin said. “The identity of the chili cookers for the chili cook-off will be hidden from the panel of judges. Theirs will be a blind judging of the chilies according to taste, texture and aroma alone. They will be sequestered away from others for their judging.”
Some of the prizes to be won that day include 10 pizzas, a number of $10 and $20 gift certificates, a 20-pound propane tank and cash, as well as many more prizes.
Lavin said there is still time to enter the chili cook-off by calling 662-5755 for further details.
“All proceeds from this chili cook-off will go to the Lakefield Kiwanis and the bicycle recycling project,” Lavin said. “The funds will be used to buy parts for the bicycles, such as handlebar grips, seats and tires. All funds the Kiwanis earn from this event, like all of their other fundraising efforts, will go to help the children of Lakefield.”
To date, chilies entered in the cook-off are of both the regular variety and exotic. Lavin is bringing a crock-pot of his Polish chili, which has Kielbasas as one of its main ingredients, he noted.
“People have to eat anyway,” Lavin said. “They might as well come out to Emerald Valley and, for a small fee, have some chili and fun helping judge the chilies entered while watching the big Iowa-Minnesota football game. In so doing, they will help provide for the children of our community.”
