Should I enter a chili cookoff?

[58limited]

Yes.

[LA Pork Butt]

I think you might get an edge up if you used ground beef and ground pork.

[jfmorris]

Agreed. I think one of the better chilis I made that the family liked had cubed up chuck plus ground beef in it.

[hoovarmin]

I always do that at a ratio of 2:1 pork to beef

[realdocBBQ]

I was going to say, "What's the down side?"

Then I remembered all the people who have tried to get me to enter BBQ comps and how I have declined. I'm just not... into it. I dunno. Guess I don't want to have my ego shattered and realize my BBQ is crap. lol

[realdocBBQ]

This is true. My thought, I suppose, is that I'm not going to cook one way JUST for competition. I honestly couldn't care less about competition style. It's just not my thing. I like to cook for PEOPLE. Not for judges. lol

[jfmorris]

Well, my issue with the real BBQ comps is that I know the judges expect something much different than what you or I really want to eat in our backyards. AND I gotta pay a $200-300 entry fee AND supply my own chicken and ribs to enter those shadetree/amateur categories in the KCBS comps around here. I have little desire to spend that much to lose a competition...

[surfdog]

Well, I doubt that would be the case. A competition is one thing…and then there is the real world. LOL

I had a cousin enter and win a chili cookoff. It was really good, but it was far from life changing IMO. Depending on the competition, I might not have picked his. Read: I’ve had better & have certainly had worse.

I don’t enter because I don’t need the hassle. I wouldn’t be shattered if I lost, and I don’t need my ego stroked…so most people wouldn’t even know if I won. That’s just not me.

[jlazar]

Go.

[tstalafuse]

I say do it, but don't let them convince you to add beans...

[radiodome21]

Absolutely go for it. The men’s club at our church used to have a chili 🌶️ cook off that the pandemic ended. I came in 3rd place the first year out of over two dozen. I wish we still did that. It was a blast. It was always the Saturday night of Wildcard NFL games.

[Alan Brice]

My cousins in Cleveland have a get together every year after Thanksgiving. I put my name into the pot of two dzn entrants.
Things got complicated and I did not get the time to cook my chili.
I went to Frisch's big boy then Wendy's and last Skyline, a fav in Cincy. Mixed them all together and won 2nd place.
Everyone at the gathering samples then votes. I didn't have the heart to tell.

[Chuck in Charlotte]

Mosca when you say "Mrs Mosca’s boss thinks he is going to win" is Mrs. Mosca still working or is that an oblique reference to yourself?

[Mosca]

Naw, she’s still working. She keeps saying she’s going to retire, and never does. She likes the social aspect. If she retired, I’d have to go back to work, we’d be on each others’ nerves if it was all day every day.

[jfmorris]

Mosca my wife is the same way. She doesn't work, but is gone 8-10 hours a day to bible studies, prayer meetings, workout classes, lunches, helping with grandkids - you name it. She says she would die if she had to work from a home office by herself like I do!

[DaveD]

Dude, go for it. Be sure to make up a pot of Rancho Gordo beans to put in there

[Alan Brice]

A clear winner. Would that be cheating?

[Mosca]

I guess I’ll do it. I’d do the really simple and primal one, but that would be my contrarian nature acting up, so I’ll do the more complicated one because that’s the kind of chili people are going to expect.

I doubt I’ll win, mostly because as LA Pork Butt said, people here are going to lean toward Pennsylvania chili, or, better said, Eastern chili. There IS a rule that says it has to be home made, to weed out the jokers, the people who would buy 8 quarts of Wendy’s chili, but that’s what I think the ideal is going to be.

I don’t care. It will be a fun thing to do, as long as I don’t spill chili all over my car.

[PGH_RAM]

Great choice! I hope you have a blast!

[rodkeary]

I can’t stop thinking about “The Office” episode when Kevin had the accident with his chili. As a matter of fact I think about it every time I take my chili off the stove.

[Mosca]

I have Brian Baumgartner’s chili recipe! It starts with toasting ancho chiles!

[STEbbq]

Too bad you couldn’t do both and have Mrs. Mosca enter as #2. I fully support you entering in any fashion!

[bbqLuv]

Only if Beans are allowed--Only if Beans are allowed--Only if Beans are allowed

[Kevin Fuess]

Are you sure you want to beat Mrs. Mosca's boss?

[Mosca]

Absolutely. Nothing against the guy, I like him well enough. But he could be brought down a few pegs and not even know it.

[Purc]

If you beat her boss, Mrs Mosca may get quite a chilly reception back at the office.

[Mosca]

Groan….

[drobinson]

I have entered several and never won----2nd once---only Texas Red----the meat is the key ingredient in my opinion---get in and win!!!