Press Kit

News from Mt Washington Valley, NH

Contact:  Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331, PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org

CHILI AND CHOCOLATE, OH MY! LAST WEEKEND IN FEBRUARY IS FOR FOODIES IN MT WASHINGTON VALLEY

North Conway, NH – February not only has an extra day this year, it also has two fabulous foodie events in Mt Washington Valley.  Foodies and gastro-travelers will delight in two of the biggest food fests of the year on the last weekend in February.  The 13th Annual Chilly Chili Cook-off on February 27th will join the 27th Annual Mt Washington Valley Chocolate Festival on February 28th for a deliciously fun-filled culinary weekend in Mt Washington Valley.

13th Annual Mt Washington Valley Chili Cook-off, Saturday, February 27, 11:00am – 3:00pm

No matter how chilly it is outside, chili tastings will warm your insides as nearly 40 professional chefs go chili to chili for awards in a number of categories for best chili, best cornbread and best chili themed display at the Gibson Center and new Community Center. Highlights of this annual event include Professional Chefs and Non-Professional Cooks vying for votes from professional culinary evaluators and chili tasters with more than 40 chili recipes. Beef, vegetarian, classic and chicken chili recipes plus cornbread tastings will be in store as chefs compete for cash prizes, trophies and chamber advertising packages plus shopping specials in stores throughout North Conway Village. 

The Professional Chef’s Division will be held at the Gibson Center for Senior Services in North Conway. A panel of professional culinary evaluators (judges) will choose the best meat & best vegetarian chili winners, basing their decision on "aroma, consistency, and taste." New this year will be a People’s Choice Trophy for best Professional Chili along with People’s Choice awards for best cornbread and best themed display/booth. 

At the same time, the People’s Choice chili cook-off will take place at the North Conway Community Center.  Non–Professional Chili cook organizations will compete for the People’s Choice award for best chili, best cornbread and best themed display/booth.  New this year is cash prizes for People’s Choice Chili Cooks who receive the most votes from chili tasters for best chili, first, second and third place.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – Saturday, February 27, 2016 – Village of North Conway

11:00 AM: Event Opens to VIP Ticket Holders at the Gibson Center for Senior Services

11:30 – 3:00 PM: vent Opens to General Ticket Holders

4:00 PM: Awards Ceremony – Open to One (1) Chef from each competing team and VIP Ticket Holders Only. Awards Ceremony will be held at Horsefeathers, North Conway Village

 Wristbands and voting tickets will be available to the general public at the event for $15 wristbands for adults and $7 wristbands for children twelve and under, children 3 and under sharing with an adult are free. A limited number of VIP package tickets will be available for $30 each.  VIP tickets include early admission to event, gift bag and admission to VIP Awards Ceremony hosted by Horsefeathers. Both wristbands allow the opportunity to attend the Chili Cook-off, taste all the teams’ chilies, and submit a vote for a favorite.

27th Annual Mt Washington Valley Chocolate Festival, Sunday, February 28

Known by many as the 'Sweetest Day on the Trails", this may be the only day of the year when chocolate indulgence is totally guilt-free! Chocoholics cross country ski or snowshoe the trails at Mt Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Foundation to enjoy chocolate prepared every way imaginable.

Chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate fountains and fondue, brownie sundaes, and chocolate cookies of all kinds are just some of the treats you'll enjoy at the trailside stops between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm. Take a minute to view the Festival Map online. Every participant will have a Festival map and brochure for each trailside business to validate to confirm your stop. Visit each of the trailside stops to enter the drawing for a $200 gift certificate to be used at any participating member business. More treats await the chocoholics that have completed the tour! Present your Festival pass on the day of the event to other North Conway area businesses for more special offers. Check back for details about other area stops.

There will be a number of trailside chocolate stops that will offer chocolate treats from 11:00am – 4:00pm including the 1785 Inn, Adventure Suites, Eastern Inn, Stonehurst Manor, the Old Field House, Riverside Inn,the MWV XC Ski Touring Center and the Whitaker Woods Meeting House.  Additionally, the Buttonwood Inn on Mt Surprise and the Briarcliff Motel will offer treats from 1:00 – 5:00pm, and the Sugar Shack at the 100 Acre Wood will be open from 11:00am – 4:00pm.

Mt Washington Valley is an ideal foodie destination with 70+ restaurants, specialty food purveyors, farms and more.  To plan your next culinary getaway to Mt Washington Valley, visit www.MtWashingtonValley.org for all the vacation planning resources you need. And if you’d rather talk with a vacation planning expert, feel free to contact the Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce at 800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364).  To learn more about visiting New Hampshire, go to www.VisitNH.gov.

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Photos available upon request.  Contact Marti Mayne at PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org.