Whether you like it spicy or mild, with beans or without, there’s a chili to satisfy everyone’s taste buds during Rotary Club of Sedona’s 6th annual Great Sedona Chili Cook-Off happening May 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. During the contest, eight area restaurants will compete for cash prizes, trophies and, of course, bragging rights. Participants include 89Agave Cantina, Vino de Sedona, Hideaway House, Timo, Cafe Paleo Brio, Verde Brewing Co., The Hudson and Garland’s Oak Creek Lodge. Additionally, the mayors of Sedona and Cottonwood will face off in the Mayors’ Challenge, and Terry Keller, fire chief of the Montezuma, Rimrock and Camp Verde fire districts will compete against Kris Kazian, fire chief of the Sedona Fire District, in the Fire Chiefs’ Challenge. Winners in the latter two categories will receive cash prizes to be donated to their charity of choice. Judges include Chris Bavasi, the former mayor of Flagstaff, Tony Inglese, a member of the International Chili Society, and Robert McGrath, host of the PBS television show Check, Please! Arizona and a James Beard award-winning chef.
The chili cook-off is one of Rotary Club of Sedona’s major fundraisers with all proceeds benefiting the club’s Imagination Library as well as Rotary International’s End Polio Now project. The Imagination Library provides free books to Sedona children from birth to age 5. John Terhune, spokesperson for the chili cook-off, says the club would like to expand the program to include children living in the entire Verde Valley. So far, the Great Sedona Chili Cook-Off has raised $72,000 for both of these projects.
The chili cook-off is part of Tlaquepaque’s Cinco de Mayo celebration. The festivities include live flamenco and mariachi music, folklorico dances, and piñatas and face painting for kids. Entry into the festival is free; chili cook-off tickets are $15 (with unlimited tastings). “It’s such a lively event,” says John. “We see lots of kids and families as well as folks from out of town who just happen to wander into a gold mine of chili.” – Erika Ayn Finch. Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Sedona.
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