Press Kit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 12, 2012

Contact:  Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331 or Mary Seavey, 603-356-5701

MARK THE CALENDAR FOR the 9^th ANNUAL  CHILI COOKOFF STROLL

North Conway, NH – For the past eight years the Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce has presented the annual chilly chili cookoff to take the chill out of a March winter day. Once again this year, the event has been spiced up a notch and two simultaneous chili cook-offs will take place with tastings available at both and plenty of festivities throughout North Conway Village. Mark the calendar for Saturday March 3, 2012 for the 9^th Annual Chili Cookoff, and plan a chilly chili day from 11am – 4pm. Businesses throughout North Conway Village have come on board and will offer everything from Chilly Ski Gear to Chilean wines to make this a truly spicy event.

Calling all Chefs – two simultaneous chili cookoffs

There will be two cookoffs happening throughout the day. Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center will be host to the International Chili Society (ICS) sanctioned Chili cookoff event under the tents in the parking lot starting at 11:00am.  Winning this ICS sanctioned district cookoff qualifies the chef to compete for $25,000 in cash prizes and awards at the 2012 ICS's World Championship Chili Cookoff to be held in Charleston, WV, October 5-7. To compete in the ICS Cookoff chefs must be a member of the ICS.  Membership information is found at http://www.chilicookoff.com/Membership/Membership_home.asp . Chefs will compete in three different categories of chili offerings including Traditional Red Chili, Chili Verde, and Salsa.  Limited tastings from this event will be available for the public under the tent at the Weather Discovery Center. Judging is managed by an official ICS Chairman and ICS Scorekeeper. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place ICS winners in each category.

Additionally and at the same time, a second non-ICS sanctioned People’s Choice chili cookoff will take place in two North Conway Village locations with chili chefs vying for the People’s Choice award.  (There will be chili tastings at businesses in the Village also!).

The day of chili feasting will take place from 11:00am to 4:00pm when chefs offer tastings at the Flatbread Company/New England Ski Museum at Eastern Slope Inn, and Rafferty’s Restaurant and Pub. Winners will be announced at the Tequila & Margarita Tastings at Rafferty's Restaurant and Pub in North Conway Village at 5:00 pm.

People’s Choice Cash Awards will be offered to the first, second and third place chili chefs who receive the most votes from chili tasters. Recognition awards will be given for best themed display, best crazy hat and best corn bread along with the best chili, of course.  This year vegetarian chili will also be added to the mix. The People’s Choice Award is separate from the ICS sanctioned competition. All chefs are invited to participate in this award and ICS membership is not required.

There’s still plenty of room for interested chili chefs to participate in either contest.  Download entry forms and rules/regs by clicking on the Chili Cookoff logo at www.mtwashingtonvalley.org.

Take the Chilly Chili Stroll

 To round out the chilly chili stroll North Conway village businesses will offer chili-inspired activities.  Have your el passporte stamped at participating businesses, and you will qualify to become a People’s Choice judge. Additionally, businesses throughout North Conway Village will get in on the festivities with chili-inspired sales, products and/or samplings.

Tickets and el passaportes for the Chili Cookoff and Chilly Chili Stroll are available at the Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce prior to the event, then throughout the day at participating venues (Flatbread Company and Rafferty’s). Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under.  Children five and under are free with a paid adult. Tickets may be pre-purchased by calling 800-367-3364.  Tickets can also be pre-purchased by mail, fax or through PayPal. 

A portion of the proceeds from the Chili Stroll will benefit D.A.R.E. in Mt Washington Valley.  This highly acclaimed program gives children the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence. D.A.R.E. was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles and has proven so successful it is now implemented in over 75 percent of our nation's school districts and in 41 countries around the world. 

Volunteers are sought for the event.  Please contact Mary at 603-356-5701 at the Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce if you are interested in volunteering or judging. Chefs are also being recruited for both chili cookoffs.  Visit www.Mtwashingtonvalley.org and click on the Chilly Chili Cookoff Stroll logo for registration materials.

The Chilly Chili Stroll is presented by the Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce.  Green Thumb Farms will provide each People's Choice Contestant with 6 pounds of either Yellow Eye, Soldier, Jacobs Cattle Beans and/or Potatoes.  Venue sponsors include Flatbread Company, Rafferty’s Restaurant & Pub and Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center. Event sponsors are Memorial Hospital, Green Thumb Farms / Cold River Vodka, Tuckerman Brewing Company, Zeb’s General Store, Horsefeathers,  Glass Graphics, Waste Management and Spittin Fire.

For complete information, downloadable registration packets and all contest rules visit www.mtwashingtonvalley.org and click on the chili cookoff logo.  Questions for organizers can be answered by calling 603-356-5701.

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