Sarasota's chili cookoff competition heats up

Elise Lipoff, whose beefy “Get Your Lipoff My Chili” won this year’s Burns Square Chili Cookoff in February, is ready for a second helping.

So far, the self-proclaimed “chili-head” has organized 50 teams and 70 vendors for Sarasota’s inaugural chili cookoff, to be held April 10, at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds.

Lipoff also coordinated the KISS Country Chili Cookoff from 2004 to 2007 in Fort Lauderdale.

“I’ve already competed on the large scale and it’s awesome, but watching the new people get so into it and start dissecting what everybody else is doing — it’s getting insane and it’s hilarious,” Lipoff said.

Although Dawn Hochberg, representing the Cock and Bull Pub, isn’t new to chili, the cookoff will be her first time competing. The pub has been making chili for the past 13 years, since it opened in its former location on Main Street.

Hochberg tried to avoid spilling any secret ingredients, but accidentally let it slip that she’s got exclusive rights to use the Spice Girls’ “Ghost Chili Salt Blend” in her chili. Her team is also using Blue Point Toasted Lager, which makes the chili lighter, but still gives it a malted flavor. Teammates Sarah Thomas and Frani Penn will join her in the competition.

“Our tag line is, ‘It’s not the heat, it’s the meat,’” she said. “We’re going with a rock ’n’ roll theme for our booth, and we’re dressing a certain way and decorating our tent — we’ll be as hot as the weather permits.”

The cookoff is the first in Sarasota to be sanctioned by the International Chili Society. Locals will compete against contestants from all over the state to produce the best bowl of chili in three hours. Trophies and more than $2,000 in prize money will be given to the top-five finishers; the first-place winner will also be eligible to compete at the 2010 International Chili Society World’s Championship Chili Cookoff. Awards will be presented for “People’s Choice” chili and “Best Booth.”

Even though the event is days away, the competition is already heating up.

“I feel bad for all of the people who came in from out of town and are going to lose,” said Morton’s Market owner Todd Morton, who has entered the competition with a team of chefs and firefighters. “I hope they enjoy themselves, but they aren’t going to walk away with a trophy — unless they want second place.”

Gates are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and teens, with free admission for children under the age of 13, and are available at www.sarasotachili.com.

Proceeds from this event — which also features a music stage with nine live bands, food vendors and a kids’ zone with bungee jumping, rock climbing, bounce houses and a dunk tank — will benefit the Student Emergency Fund of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.

Contact Loren Mayo at [email protected].