Peppers & spice ... and a vote for chili that's nice

The 20th Annual Chili Competition will take place on Saturday, Aug. 15 at Veterans Island Park in Saratoga during the Microbrew Festival.

The competition has gradually become more popular each year. Businesses as well as individuals enter the chili competition to share their recipes with the community and to hopefully win a prize. There are three categories in the competition: red chili, green chili and salsa. “It’s an even mix, [there’s] a lot of individuals,” said Mitch Bangert, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Chamber of Commerce.

In last year’s chili competition, there were 19 entries. So far this year, there are already about 20 entries with about an even amount of people entered in each category. In 2014, Charlie Dana, part-time Saratoga resident, won the red chili competition, Duke’s Bar & Grill won for green chili and The Saratoga Resort & Spa won for salsa. These previous winners will be at the competition again this year. These local restaurants and some others have already entered themselves for this year’s event. Sweet Marie’s plans to make a salsa, The Saratoga Resort & Spa entered into all three categories and Duke’s Bar & Grill will make a green chili and a salsa.

People’s Choice voting will begin as soon as the Festival gates open to the public at 1 p.m. Attendees will pay only one time and get to taste all the chili entered into the contest. They can vote for their favorites and the top cook in each category will receive a certificate of recognition and a $50 Chamber gift certificate that can be redeemed at any chamber member’s business.

Winners are chosen by the amount of voting tickets they receive by people at the event. There will also be a root beer tasting at Veterans Island and the voting works the same way. This event is fun for the entire family. Bring your best recipe and enter the contest.

Contestants are asked to bring a crock pot or a similar container full of each entry to the park by noon on Aug. 15. Containers must be picked up by 6 p.m. For an application to enter and a full list of rules, go to the chamber’s website, http://www.saratogachamber.info/play-here/steinleycup, stop in at the chamber office or call 307-326-8855 by Aug. 10.