Tasty Local Ingredient Chili Challenge Returns to New Paltz

No matter how you like your chili you are bound to love one of the selections at the Annual Local Ingredient Chili Challenge in New Paltz New York.

16th Annual Local Ingredient Chili Challenge Returns to New Paltz in March

The 16th Annual Local Ingredient Chili Challenge is set for Saturday, March 15th from 12 PM to 3 PM and the question is are you going to enter your chili or just go for the tastings? You don't have a lot of time to think about t it because slots to enter your chili are going quickly.

Each year for the last 16 years local chefs and home cooks have gotten together at the end of winter for this tasty event to compete for various titles including Most Creative. Water Street Market in the Village of New Paltz hosts this event each year which will honor Marcy Fall.

READ More: Popular New Paltz Bakery Temporarily Closed

20 Chefs Will Compete in Local Ingredient Chili Challenge in New Paltz

Challenge officials are allowing 20 participants this year. There is a $50 fee to enter which covers the board of health permit and you are required to make at least 5 gallons of chili which you will need to serve to the public who enjoy eating at this event every year.

The Challenge part is that your Chili must have at least 5 local ingredients in it. Everything from beef to beans to beer counts. More than 5 local ingredients is encouraged and may get you more pull with the judges.

Plaques or should I say cool hand-painted cutting boards are handed out as trophies in various categories, best overall, best vegetarian, best professional (restaurant or professional chef), people's choice, and most original. If you are a home chef you need to use a commercial kitchen and that can be arranged.

Local Ingredient Chili Challenge Will Benefit Local Food Pantry in Ulster County

What is great about this event for non-chili cooks is the tastings. $2 gets you a 3-ounce taste and you can get 12 tastes for $20. An added bonus to all the fun is that all the proceeds from this event go to St. Joseph's non-denominational food pantry that feeds hundreds of local families.

Some of your favorite New Paltz restaurants participate along with some very talented home chefs. Past contestants include The Parish, Runa, Mohonk Mountian House, and even the New Paltz Fire Department. If you want to bring your Chili to the challenge contact Theresa Fall at terryfall@gmail.com.