The 24th Annual St. Jude Chili Cook-Off is right around the corner and cooks from across the nation are making plans to attend an event that pits their culinary talents while helping children with catastrophic illnesses.
Minden has again been designated as the site for the 2015 Louisiana State Championship.
“State championships not only draw more cooks but the first three Louisiana cooks that place automatically qualify for the World Championships held in Terlingua, Texas during the first weekend of November,” cook-off chairman, George E. French III said.
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Sponsored by Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) and hosted by CASI members, the annual cook-off will be held Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Minden Civic Center in conjunction with the Minden St. Jude Auction.
French said a People’s Choice Competition will be included. “The public is invited and encouraged to attend and taste World Class Chili while enjoying live music by the rocking good band Bayou Magic,” French added.
A “Local Cooks” category is being held again this year. Interested local cooks and seasoned competitors are strongly encouraged to participate by contacting French at 371-5601 for more information. The 2015 Cook-Off will be preceded by a gumbo supper for chili cooks on Friday, Jan. 30 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Last year, five former World Champs and the national CASI president joined to help out. Seventy-five cooks registered and more than 500 tasting cups were sold to the crowds that came out to sample chili, raising $1,248,296 in donations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by the auction.
“This included $7,384 from the chili cook-off alone,” French said. “For their efforts, Minden folks were recognized as a ‘Million Dollar City.’”
Individuals interested in judging the chili should contact Mary Winget at 371-5605 Email: mary.winget@lpnt.net as soon as possible.
“We have a limited number of seats left – first come, first served,” Winget said.