Dust off your Stetson, polish those cowboy boots and get ready for a rootin’-tootin’ weekend of fun as the 35th Mexican National Chili Cookoff blasts off Friday, February 22 for a three-day run at the Tobolandia Water Park.
If western wear is not your thing, Tilley hats and tennis or any other kind of apparel will do to enjoy lakeside’s largest and longest running charity event.
Revolving around competition between 30 cooks who are out to show their talent in concocting that all-American comfort food chili con carne, the Cookoff wraps in a giant fair with 100-plus vendors offering varied goods and services, loads of live entertainment, and plentiful food and drink to keep throngs fueled up each day. But its core purpose is to lend support to eight altruistic organizations.Proceeds are shared evenly between Programa Pro Niños Incapacitados del Lago, Lakeside School for the Deaf and Children with Special Needs, Los Niños de Chapala y Ajijic, Los Niños de San Antonio, Casa de Ancianos de Chapala, Cruz Roja de Chapala and Love in Action Children’s Home. Each of these groups actively participates in planning and operating the Cookoff, joining a team of several hundred volunteers who make it all happen.
Competitions
Friday’s Cookoff opener features the master’s matchup between 10 professional chefs, plus the palate-cooling Margarita mixer’s contest for added buzz. Amateur cooks will lock horns in Saturday’s home-brewed chili contest. Cookoff winners from the past will recreate their prize recipes for a crack at the title in Sunday’s first ever Tournament of Champions invitational. Awards will go to the top three competitors in each category based on the highest number of votes cast by those who line up to sample the entries.
Gates open daily at 11 a.m. General admission is set at 20 pesos per person, with secure on-site parking included in the price. The People’s Choice tasting tent opens for business at noon. Winners are announced at 4 p.m.
Friday’s entertainment line-up includes the Frankie Dino show, vocalist Lupita Jimenez, Blue Velvet, the Alakai-Kela Hawaiian dance troupes and Niños del piano.
Saturday kicks off with the Cookoff parade, starting from the west end of Ajijic at 10 a.m. for arrival at the fairgrounds for the official ribbon cutting at opening time. Also on the bill are Ajijic’s Ballet Folklorico Xicantzi, a display of dancing horses, a return appearance by Lupita Jimenez and the Aziriam Belly Dancers.
Sunday’s performers include Cornelio Garcia, Claudia Jane, the Punta y Tacon dancers, Lupita Jimenez and the Ballet Xicantzi children’s corps.
Scores of gift certificates, meal vouchers and selected items donated by local businesses will be up for grabs every day in the Cookoff’s giant raffle. The Cruz Roja Rubber Ducky Race offers cash prizes to sponsors holding winning numbers in daily elimination heats and the Sunday final.
Log on to www.mexicannationalchilicookoff.com for the full rundown on Cookoff vendors, a listing of raffle prizes and profiles of the beneficiaries.