Chili cook-off Nov. 9 a chance to bowl over the competition

The spring chili cook-off went so well, The Salvation Army decided to stack up the bowls and spoons and get ready to do it again Nov. 9.

There will be prizes for the best chili. And while the event is a fundraiser for the community food pantry, it also is an opportunity for people to get together and socialize, said Salvation Army Capt. Chase Green.

“There was a lot of excitement” at the April cook-off, which drew 18 entries, he said. “People asked, ‘When are you going to do it again?’” He hopes for 25 chili entries this time.

The event is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Nolan Center. It’s the same time as the Christmas bazaar put together by Harbor Light Assembly of God Church.

Chili chefs need to register in advance, so that organizers have an idea of how many bowls and other supplies to bring to the center. Cooks can sign up at The Salvation Army Facebook page or go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J6XJXHJ.

A quartet of judges will taste each entry and award prizes, Green said. The first-place winner will take home a $250 gift card from Wrangell IGA, with a $100 cash prize for second and $50 cash prize for third place, he said.

Community members who pay $10 to enjoy all of the entries will be able to vote on their favorites, Green said. The winner will receive a basket of cooking and kitchen items.

Admission is free to chili cook-off entrants.

Though Green’s personal favorites have no influence on the judging, he is “a big fan of spicy sweet chili,” adding, “here in Alaska, you can’t go wrong with a moose chili.”

He also is a fan of fruit chilis, such as pineapple or mango.