Chilifest 2011: Everyone's a Judge

Local area restaurants from Norwalk to Fairfield will engage in a culinary battle for the area's best chili on Saturday Oct. 29th from 11:30am - 3:30pm at the Unitarian Church in Westport.  Admission is $6 for adults, $5 seniors (60+) and $2 kids (5-17).  Unlike most competitions, everyone is a judge and can sample and vote for their favorites.

The competition is expected to be 'hot' as the list of restaurants include chili cook-off veterans as well as restaurants you might not expect to see in this type of contest.  Chef Pietro Scotti of DaPietro's in Westport is always up for a culinary challenge and will be entering a traditional as well as a "creative" entry.  Chef Chris North of Rowayton Seafood will be cooking up a seafood chili, and Chef Troilo of Nicholas Robert's Restaurant in Norwalk will throw down with his special recipe. 

Chili veterans include restaurants with well known chilis such as Bobby Q's of Westport, Brewhouse in Norwalk, Ash Creek Saloon of Norwalk & Fairfield and The Old Post Tavern in Fairfield. The event's dark horse is a new restaurant recently opened, called Chili Bomb.  Sample this new venue...you be the judge. Chef Peter Weberg of Chilibomb has won 1st place awards for his various chili concoctions from Virginia to Maine and has recently put his expertise in his Chili Bomb restaurant located on Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield.

"Chilifest is a couple years in the making" said Jim Keenan, creator of Chowdafest and now Chilifest.  "Each year, our participating Chowdafest restaurants ask to enter a chili so we decided to try an event dedicated to just chili instead.  If Chilifest is half as popular as Chowdafest has become, we should have another hit on our hands.  I'm really happy with the creativity these restaurants are showing and I think all who attend will really be impressed."  The event is being sponsored by the Unitarian Church in Westport at 10 Lyons Plains Road.

For more information, please visit www.aboutchilifest.com.