Charles City’s Great Chili Cook-Off returns with Comet Café Edition

To The Press

After its streak of 25 straight years was interrupted by the global COVID pandemic, The Great Chili Cook-Off returns to Charles City on Friday, April 5th.

Organized by Main Street Charles City as a fun community event and program fundraiser, the Chili Cook-Off was last held in 2020 before the pandemic shut things down for a while.

“Every year we hear from people asking if we are going to bring the Chili Cook-Off back and how much they enjoyed it in the past,” said Community Development Director Mark Wicks. “So you can say it is back by popular demand!”

The event features eight local “celebrity chefs,” each making their own chili recipe, competing for the coveted “Golden Ladle” award and bragging rights. The public is invited to sample each of the chili concoctions between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, April 5, at the Columbus Club (Knights of Columbus hall) and vote for their favorite.

Each chili will be randomly numbered, so the public will not know who made which chili until the winner is announced at the end. Tickets are $10 per person and will include chili samples, crackers, drink and dessert.

This year’s theme is the “Comet Café Edition,” featuring culinary students from the local high school’s Comet Café class taught by instructor Cady Mead.

Taking part in this year’s competition are Charles City High School students Lukas Vance, Trevor Carolan, Chris Barritt, Clayton Wright, Makenna Baker-Neve, Connor Dietz, and the two-person teams of Laurie Baking and Jazznee David, and Keenen Wiley and Jordan Young.

“They are so excited for this,” commented Mead. “It will be a lot of fun.”

The tasting is open to the public and attendees will determine the winner. Helping to make this event possible are sponsors Fidelity Bank & Trust, Yokohama TWS, Cambrex, CUSB Bank, First Citizens Bank and First Security Bank & Trust.

Tickets will be available in advance from the Main Street Charles City office at 401 North Main St., or at the door the day of the event while supplies last. For more information, call (641) 228-2335 or email info@charlescitychamber.com.

Main Street Charles City is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization under the Main Street Iowa program, committed to the preservation, support and enhancement of the downtown district.