JACKSONVILLE — New River Harley-Davidson is looking for the best chili cooking teams in Eastern North Carolina to show off their skills for its sixth annual competition this month.
Each year, the Screamin’ Eagle High Performance Chili Challenge gathers competitors from across the area to prepare their best batch of hot chili to benefit a worthy cause. This year’s event is set for Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. at New River Harley-Davidson, but teams are encouraged to register as soon as possible before the Jan. 23 deadline.
Event Coordinator Shannon Hogan said that last year’s challenge produced a record number of attendees to watch teams compete and sample the varieties of chili.
“It’s fun the way the teams pick on each other and the camaraderie,” Hogan said. “Last year was awesome. The weather was 60 degrees and we had 1,000 in attendance so we’re hoping to beat that this year.”
The event also raises money in support of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides immediate financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.
This year, the challenge will officially start at 9 a.m. Teams will set up booths to whip up their recipes during the allotted time, while guests watch them in action and listen to live music performed by Electric Shake.
“There’s a charge of $20 to enter to buy hamburger that is used in (the chili),” Hogan said. “No one can bring their own meat, but everything is else supplied by them.”
Sampling will take place from noon to 2 p.m., allowing attendees to try each recipe for a $5 donation. At 3 p.m., a panel of judges will then sample each chili based on criteria such as consistency, overall look, flavor, smell and color. Trophies and the freedom to brag will be awarded to first and second place teams. Hogan said that the overall goal is to gain 25 to 30 teams this year.
Area businesses, organizations and more are invited to take on the challenge.
“Each team is different and we even had some of them decorate their tents last year,” Hogan said. “We had a team who made their tent look like an actual corral. It’s a good time to be had by all, even kids.”
Contact Aniesa Holmes at 910-219-8473 or aniesa.holmes@jdnews.com.