Paradise Area's Ice Festival Chili Cook-Off

The Paradise Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Chili Cook-Off event during their second annual Ice Festival weekend in Paradise, Michigan.  It just made sense to winter events coordinator, Nikki Craig to offer a warm up activity during the Ice Festival schedule.   Tahquamenon Falls State Park offers a Chili Cook Off activity during their Harvest Festival in October. The chamber hopes to model that activity while providing visitors to the area a tasty sampling of Chili to warm their spirits.

The Ice Festival’s Chili Cook Off is Saturday, February 27 from Noon until 1:00 PM.  Anyone interested in putting their chili recipe to the test, may set up between 11:00 and Noon.    You need to bring your prepared soup and be ready to serve at Noon.  Please abide by health department requests by using your best manners in preparing and serving the food.  You will have access to an electrical outlet and need a ladle to serve from 25 – 50 miniature servings (2 – 3 ounces).  Soup servers may decorate their table suitable for the festivities.  There is no charge for participating in this first year and there is no charge for soup tasting.  The chamber will provide soup tasters with soda crackers, serving cup, napkins, and spoon.  Soup tasters will vote on their favorite entry.  So invite your family and friends to participate in the soup tasting fun.  

Awards will be meager this first year but boasting rights abound.  A certificate of merit will be given to the People’s Choice.  A judge has been wrangled to provide an additional perspective so contestants, please have your recipe handy.   The judge’s choice will receive a certificate as well.    So bring in your TexMex, White Chili, Minnesota’s Twist, Cincinnati Style, or your grandmother’s best.  We’re looking forward to the camaraderie and tasty delights!

When you arrive early, you will be able to enjoy the Whitefish Township’s EMT’s breakfast and hang around for the Ice Festival Swap Meet.  If you have anything to sell, bring it to the swap meet from 11:00 to 3:00 PM.  The Chili Cook-Off awards will be handed out at the 3:00 Awards program along with the winners of the Ice Festival Sculpture contest.  There is a lot to do during the Ice Festival, so get out and about, say hello to a neighbor or two and have some fun in Paradise!

If you have any questions, give Nikki a call at 492-3266.  If you plan on submitting an entry the last Saturday in February, please give her a call so we have an idea for preparations and entry signs.  Come join in the fun!

Pictures and contestants will be featured in a post on this blog in March.  We're looking forward to seeing you.