The aroma of competition chili will be filling the air in Woodland at the Yolo County Fairgrounds on September 20th, as the eleventh annual Woodland Dynamite Chili Cook-off gets under way.

• What is ICS?

  ICS is the International Chili Society, a world wide group of "Chili Heads" who feel they can cook the best bowl of Chili. Membership in ICS is $42 per year and entitles you to cook in any district, regional, state or the World cook-off. Once you become a member you will receive a newspaper four times a year listing all of the cook-off's that have received ICS sanction.

• What is competition chili?

  Competition chili is defined as a bowl of Texas Red. It is made up of meat and sauce with spices. Competition chili has no beans or fillers. It must be prepared at the cook-off site (usually on a camp stove). Meat can be cut before hand; either ground or chopped, but cannot be marinated or smoked prior to the event. You must be a member of ICS to cook competition chili. We have copies of the ICS rules on chili.

• What is Green Chili ?

  Green chili or chili verde in competition is similar to ICS red chili, except, guess what, it's green. Also the meat is either pork or chicken, not beef. The regular ICS rules apply: no beans or fillers and must be cooked at the cook-off site. The winner of the ICS green chili competition is qualified to cook in the green chili semi-finals at the World Cook-off. Green chili cooking begins at 11 a.m. with turn-in of chili for judging at 2 p.m. Green chili competitors must have an ICS membership and pay a $20 entry fee. The winner of green chili at the Woodland Dynamite Chili cook-off gets all of the entry fee money.

• What is People's Choice Chili?

  People's Choice chili is chili that is judged only by the people and not included in the ICS judging. People's Choice chili must contain beans, and is usually made prior to the event. The chili with the most votes of the people becomes the winner (so if you have the most chili and friends at the cook-off, you might get the most votes!) People's Choice chili should be ready to serve by 11 a.m. ballots will be counted at 3:30 PM. Judging for People's Choice Restaurant will be separate. (The commitee has the right to determine what category an entry will be if they are in a food related business, ie: caterers)

• What is the Yolo Chili?

  The Chili team from Yolo County that receives the highest number of votes in the ICS judging will receive the title of the Best Yolo County Chili along with the bragging rights for the year.

• Can I cook more than one type of chili?

  You can cook more than one type. You can cook ICS red and green (cook at the cook-off), People's Choice (the one with beans), if you are from Yolo County the Yolo County Chili, and you can also do salsa. All this can be done from one booth.

• What about the people's choice salsa contest?

  The rules on salsa are that there are no rules. Salsa can be made at the cook-off, made at home, bought from a store, stolen from your neighbor, what ever you want to do to get your salsa. You do not need to have a chili team to enter salsa. The public votes for their favorite Salsa. Restaurants will also be judged separately.

• What is the Showmanship award?

  Each chili team, whether cooking competition or people's choice chili is encouraged to decorate their booth. Selection of you team's name can assist in the decorations. Some examples: Big Bad Mama's had a theme of the old west, team members dressed in western costumes, including saloon girls; Great American Chili Company, is red, white and blue; Dynamite Chili Company is explosive; Nun Better full nun's habits. The point is to have fun, be a little crazy, sing some songs, (a tip, chili cooks are known to stretch the truth, many will tell people what their secret ingredients are but I don't think they really use road kill, or rattle snake, or gun powder). Judging on Showmanship will be between 1 and 2:30 PM.

• What is the booth size and what do we need to bring?

  Each team is given a 10' x 10' space along (we will have a limited number of tables and chairs available, first come first grab), the rest is up to you. You will need to bring something to cook on (usually a camp stove), we recommend that you have some type of covering for your booth, a popup tent is good, your decorations and your support team. The more support people you bring the more activity around your booth, the better the judges like it for showmanship.

• What is the set up time, cooking time etc?

  You can start setting up your booth at 7 a.m. and must be completed setting up by 10:30 am. There will be a cook's meeting at 10:30 where we will go over the rules and any other house cleaning information. Right after the cook's meeting, any first time cooks will meet with the chief judge to review the ICS rules. "Cold prep" for ICS red chili (the cutting of vegetables, blending of sauces and spices) begins at 11 am. Stoves are turned on at Noon and off at 3 PM when the competition chili is turned in to the judges.

• What else is going on during the cook-off?

  We will be having lots of activities including pony rides (sorry it's only for the kids), a beer garden, (yes this one is for the adults), live music entertainment by Michael Ward. We will also have vednors selling food: chili, hot dogs, burgers, chips etc. The Chamber will be the sole provider of beverages and have in addition to beer, soda's and bottled water.

• What is a "Tasting Kit"?

  Tasting Kits are available during the event for $7.00 each. Each Tasting Kit contains sampling cup/s, spoons, napkins, tickets for 7 tastings (salsa tastings are unlimited), 2 People's Choice chili ballots and two People's Choice salsa ballots and a motorcycle ballot. The public tastes the various people's choice chili and salsa then vote for their favorite. The more friends and support people you have at the event, the more votes you can get, the better the chances of winning People's Choice!

• Where is the money raised for this event going?

  Proceeds from this event will go to assist in the funding of youth activities and help the Woodland Chamber in their community wide visitor and tourism projects.