Annual Chili & Salsa Cook-off Heats Up Downtown Toms River

Toms River, NJ….There’ll be lots of spicy, zesty, taste-tempting goodness at the 21st Annual New Jersey State Chili and Salsa Cook-off. The event takes place rain or shine on Saturday, May 15th from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Washington Street in Toms River. Contestants from all over the East Coast will be cooking up a variety of fresh chilies and salsas as they compete for prize money and the New Jersey “state champion” title in this International Chili Society (ICS) sanctioned event.

The festival kicks off with a fun parade and offers something for the whole family, including live musical entertainment by Boccigalupe & The Bad Boys, crafters, vendors, children’s inflatable rides, games, food and chili eating contests throughout the day. The mouth-watering aroma of freshly prepared chili and salsa fills the air, and attendees can purchase tasting kits to sample and vote on the dozens of delicious varieties of chili and salsa that are entered in the People’s Choice competition.

In addition to awards for best chili and salsa, contestants also vie for the “best booth” award. The Pop Hots group has held the title for three years running, entertaining everyone with their festive costumes, elaborately decorated booth and bestowing passing attendees with Mardi Gras style beads.

ttendees can sample the wide variety of creatively spicy, delicious chili and salsa entries in the People’s Choice competition by purchasing a tasting kit for $8 at the event, $7 if purchased in advance. Tasting kits will be on sale at the event from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Advance tasting kit tickets are on sale until 4:00 p.m. on May 14 at the following locations: Downtown Toms River office, 218 Main Street, 732-341-8738; Beachwood Bicycles, 101 Highway 166, Beachwood, 732-349-2333; Simply Skin, 313 West Water Street, Toms River, 732-505-9448; Rand’s Camera, 1843 Hooper Ave, Toms River, 732-255-3213; The County Connection at Ocean County Mall, Hooper Ave, Toms River, 732-288-7777; and by calling - more -

21st Annual Chili & Salsa Cook-off

Allen Consulting at 732-946-2711. Tasting kits tickets can also be purchased by mail. Just visit www.downtowntomsriver.com, click on Events and print out the order form for the festival. Contestants from New Jersey, the tri-state area, and beyond will compete in the ICS portion of the contest, cooking up fresh chilies and salsas for a panel of judges. Serving once again as head judge for the ICS contests will be Steve Falkowski, the 1997 New Jersey State and ICS Worlds Champion, and his wife, Audrey, who will take on the role of Chief Scorekeeper. Grand prize winner in the ICS Red Chili category receives $1,500 and is automatically qualified to compete in the Worlds Chili Cook-off. People’s Choice Red Chili winner receives $1,000. For more information on competing, visit www.chili-nj.com.

Deadline to vote for the People’s Choice categories will be 3:45 p.m. Winners will be announced at a 4:30 pm awards ceremony, where they will share a total of $4,800 in prize money. The first-place winners in each ICS category will be eligible to compete in the 2010 ICS Worlds Championship chili cook-off. According to Falkowski, for the ICS judging, competitors must be ICS members and adhere to the strict ICS contest rules, which prohibit the use of beans or pasta and the pre-cooking of any ingredients. There are three ICS competition categories: red chili, chili verde, and salsa. For chili, the judging criteria are based on flavor, texture of the meat, as well as consistency and blend of spices, aroma and color. Falkowski says, “Cooks get really excited about the Toms River competition because it’s one of the earliest competitions on the calendar and the winner has the honor of not only securing a spot to compete in the Worlds Championship, but to be the New Jersey State champion as well.”

The NJ State Chili Salsa Cook-Off is sponsored by Comcast, First Energy Foundation (JCP&L), New Jersey Natural Gas, United Water of Toms River, Mr. Alan's Florist, Commerce Bank, and radio stations WJRZ and The WRAT. For information on registering to compete, contest rules and entry fees, visit www.chili-nj.com or call 732-946-2711. For additional information on this event or other Downtown Toms River events or to volunteer to assist with them, call 732-341-8738 or visit www.downtowntomsriver.com.

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