The annual Firehouse Chili Cook-Off heats up Chattanooga Market on Sunday.
Area firefighters will go kettle to kettle to determine who makes the best chili. Last year, Chattanooga’s Station 1 earned the People’s Choice award, and Cleveland Fire Department took home the Chef’s Choice award. It was the Cleveland squad’s debut in the cook-off, so the win has increased the level of competition.
“It’s a friendly competition but at the same time a fierce one,” said Bruce Garner, Chattanooga Fire Department public information director.
Josh Mowery, Cleveland’s team captain, said winning again will be “no problem. Our chili’s going to be just as good.”
The only change in strategy, he said, is that they’ll make more.
This year, Signal Mountain firefighters will join the fray. Then there are the chili chiefs, a group of Chattanooga Fire Department chiefs who “think they’ve got it all together, thinking they make good chili,” Garner said with a laugh.
They’ve named themselves CHAOS (Chiefs Have Arrived on Scene), and they’ll be stirring the pot with a lot of confidence in their chili-making prowess.
IF YOU GO* What: Firehouse Chili Cook-Off at Chattanooga Market.* When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.* Where: First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd.* Admission: Free ($7.50 for chili tasting, $5 each additional ticket).* Website: www.chattanoogamarket.org.CHILI TEAMS* Chattanooga Station 1 (People’s Choice winner 2009)* Cleveland Firehouse (Chefs’ Choice winner 2009)* Chattanooga Fire Academy cadets* CHAOS (group of Chattanooga’s fire chiefs)* Signal Mountain Fire Department
“Oh, I know we’ll win. I’ve got a lot of confidence in it,” said Randy Parker, fire chief for the city of Chattanooga. “We’ve tasted some good chilis over the years, but when the chiefs start cooking, it will be even better, simply because that’s the way it is.”
“Any event involving food is popular, and the Firehouse Chili Cook-Off … always draws a crowd,” said Melissa Siragusa, spokeswoman for Chattanooga Market. “It will be fun to see who wins this year.”
Admission to the market is free every Sunday, but if you want to try the chili, you’ll need to buy a ticket ($7.50 for the first ticket, $5 for others in your party), but it’s for a good cause. Each ticket allows for tasting chili from all five teams, as well as casting your vote for the People’s Choice award. All proceeds go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Chattanooga.
“And you get a lot of chili for your money,” Siragusa said.