Thank you for your interest in competing in the 2nd Annual FTA For The Animals Chili
Cook-off on Sunday November 10, 2024 at the Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville FL.

 

In a Nutshell:

 

We'll provide you with space for a 10' x 10' booth, electric power, serving cups and spoons and all materials needed to submit chili for judging.  You bring your tent, equipment, at least 2 gallons of your best chili (or what you need to cook it on-site) and any sides you need.

 

This is not a CASI sanctioned event.  All types of chili are welcome, including vegan and vegetarian.

How to Register:

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If you haven’t already registered, email LetsFixThemAll@gmail.com with the following information:

 

• Your name

• Your affiliation (if you are cooking for a business, church or restaurant)

• Your contact information (mailing address, email and phone number)

• Whether you will be cooking on-site or bringing cooked chili to serve

 

The registration fee is $20.  You can send a check made out to “Fix Them All” to Fix Them All, 7257

 NW 4th BLVD #20, Gainesville, FL 32607.  Once we match your check with your emailed information, we will confirm your registration.

 

If you need something you don’t have, ask us.  We have a limited amount of extra equipment to loan.

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Judging and Awards:

People’s Choice awards will be based on ballots filled out by people who have purchased wristbands to participate.  Trophies will be given for Best Booth and Best Chili. 

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Judges awards will be based on blind taste testing.  All chilis will be evaluated on a 1-10 scale in the

categories:  Aroma, Color, Consistency, Taste and Aftertaste.  Judges awards will be made for:

 

First place $300 & trophy

Second place $200 & certificate

Third place $100 & certificate

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What to bring:

 

Cooks must provide their own tents and equipment for cooking.  If you bring your chili pre-made, you should bring a crock-pot or some other way of keeping it hot.   You will likely need to bring, at a minimum, the following extra gear:

• Table

• Dipping or serving spoon

• Knife

• Measuring spoons and cups

• Can opener

• Pot holders

• Tablecloth

• Paper towels

• Ladles, large and small

• Ice chest and ice

• Long-handled spoon

• Cutting board

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There will be a People's Choice award for Best Booth, so feel free to bring booth decorations and have fun with it!

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Safety requirements:

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Chili must be heated to at least 140 degrees throughout.  Bring a food thermometer.

Booths must have a portable fire extinguisher.  We have a few we can lend so let us know if you need us to provide one.
 

What to Expect:

 

The cookoff will open to chefs at 9:00 am.  Chefs should go to the registration table to get their

10’ x 10’ assigned spot to set up their booths and cooking gear. There will be a "cooks’ meeting"

at 10:00 when the rules of the day will be explained and the cooks will be given an opportunity to ask questions.  You will also receive your judging cups at this time and be told when to turn them into the judges.  The event opens to the public at 11:00 am.

 

At the designated turn-in time, all cooks will take their chili samples to the judging tent. The Chief

Referee will oversee the marking of the judging cups for the blind judging and judging will begin. Announcement of the winners will be between 3pm and 3:30pm.​​​​

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