Should I enter a chili cookoff?

[Mosca]

I dunno. I have 3 more days to decide. And Mrs Mosca’s boss thinks he is going to win.

I have two recipes that I could use. One is straight up bowl of red: cubed beef, guajillos or anchos, garlic, cumin, Mexican oregano, salt, masa. No onions, no tomatoes, just pure San Antonio chili queen stuff. It’s AMAZINGLY good, but so far off the charts of what people consider chili now, 150 years later, that it doesn’t have a chance to win, I don’t think.

My other recipe is not too much of an evolution from that; there are a couple fringe ingredients, but the main adds are tomato paste & sauce, onion, chicken stock, and cocoa powder.

It’s a lot of work, but I love making chili. And I can give the 10 quart cast iron Dutch oven a whirl.

[smokenoob]

Worst case you get to enjoy great chili, I say go for it!

[shify]

100% you should. Even if a bowl of red is not what most people will think of chili, at least it'll stand out.

We did a causal chili cookoff/potluck on my street a few years ago and it was like you described. Most were ground beef with tomatoes, beans, generic chile powder, etc. or other types of white chicken chili, etc. I came in with my typical Texas chili using cubed chuck, 4-5 kinds of dried chiles, etc. It blew everyone away that wasn't used to eating a non-ground meat based chili.

[Purc]

Go for it. Is it for Chili or Chili stew? Says someone who now lives in Texas if you know what I mean.

[realdocBBQ]

<yawn>

[Oak Smoke]

Heck yes! If nothing else you’ll add another war story to your collection. If I remember right it was 58limited who posted a recipe for chili that has won the chili cook off at Terlingua twice . I’ve made it a couple of times and love it. Around here you hear the story of the guys that added beer to Hormel chili and won a cook off. Go for it!

[58limited]

For those interested the recipe can be found here: https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...31#post1325331

[Oak Smoke]

Thank you!

[Mosca]

They say chili. I know the difference!

If I enter it will be the evolved version. I feel confident this is chili.

• 12 ancho chiles, stems and seeds removed
• 7 pasilla chiles, stems and seeds removed
• 2½ tablespoons cumin seeds, toasted, then ground
• 1 tablespoon whole coriander seeds, toasted, then ground
• 1½ tablespoons dried Mexican oregano
• 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa
• 1½ tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
• ½ teaspoon cayenne
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 6 pounds beef chuck roast
• ⅓ cup fresh leaf lard (preferable) or shortening
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 15 garlic cloves, minced
• ⅔ cup tomato paste
• 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
• 3 quarts chicken stock (set aside ⅔ cup for the masa harina)
• ½ cup masa harina whisked into ⅔ cup hot chicken stock
• kosher salt

Or, I might just start tossing stuff in a pot, idk.

I have some questions I need to ask the organizer. For example, they’re asking for 8 quarts, which is easy, but requesting that the chili be brought in a crock pot. I have a slow cooker, but it’s 6 quarts; who has an 8 quart crock pot/slow cooker?

[N227GB]

I could use a bowl of that right now for lunch. It's 47 degrees in Fort Myers.

[realdocBBQ]

Andrrr what was the typo? Did he correct it? It looks right to me. Leaf lard is a real thing... if that's what you meant.

[Andrrr]

Well SOB Mosca realdocBBQ I learned something new today. I thought maybe it autocorrected "beef" into "leaf". And yes, I realize beef is tallow.
I'll go sit in the corner now ...

[LA Pork Butt]

Having watched more than my share of BBQ competitions, if you are competing to win cook for the judges. It makes no difference how good the chili is, if the judges don’t think so. I would cook Pennsylvania chili whatever that might be.

[TripleB]

How do you know what the judges want in a chili competition? A chili competition is different than a BBQ competition.

[Oak Smoke]

I’ve often wondered what judges were measuring behind the scenes. As long as it isn’t one of those who can make the hottest chili competitions you’ll do well I believe.

[jfmorris]

My answer is YES. Do it. And do your best chili, regardless of expectations. Those judges know nothing...

[captainlee]

Go forit!

[Hulagn1971]

Definitely do it! I really dig your recipe. The biggest Dutch oven we have is 7 quarts and when I make smoked chuck chili it nearly fills it. I use 4lbs of chuck. Thinking you may need to split yours into (2) Dutch ovens then put into 2 separate slow cookers for the cookoff. That's a LOT of chili

[Mosca]

I have a 100 year old 11 qt Griswold Dutch oven that is used only for chili. But I don’t have an electric hot plate to bring along.

[jfmorris]

Mosca time for that electric induction burner you always knew you needed...

[Mosca]

jfmorris I was just pricing them on Amazon!

[Jfrosty27]

Absolutely go for it. As noted above, at the least you will have had some great chili. (The boss always wins.). Good luck!

[fracmeister]

I have won these contests before and failed miserably with better chili. I do not know what qualifies someone to be a chili expert other than willingness. Just don't be concerned if you win and don't be too impressed with yourself if you win!

[SheilaAnn]

+1 from fracmeister

Do it!

[Draznnl]

What do you have to lose except some time? If you win, great. If you don’t win, you’ll still know you made great chili. Have fun with it and just don’t get emotionally invested.

[RonB]

Add me to the list of those sayin' "do it".