Toms River, NJ The 19th Annual NJ State Chili Salsa Cook-Off, the only International Chili Society (ICS) state-level sanctioned chili competition at the Jersey Shore, will heat up Washington Street in Downtown Toms River on Saturday, May 17 from 11 am to 5 pm - rain or shine.
The event is hosted by Downtown Toms River (the Toms River Business Improvement District) and features free admission and parking for the all-day competition. The festival offers something for chili lovers of all ages including live musical entertainment, vendors, children's inflatable rides and of course, the opportunity to taste the numerous red chili, chili verde and salsa entries!
There are three ICS competition categories: red chili, chili verde, and salsa. In addition, there are two People's Choice categories: red chili and salsa. While you will find beans or pasta in the People's Choice entries, neither is allowed in the ICS entries. Festival attendees will want to purchase tasting kits so they can sample the wide variety of creatively spicy, delicious chili and salsa entries. Tasting kits are $8 if purchased in advance at the Downtown Toms River Business Office, 218 Main Street, or by calling 732-946-2711. On the day of the event, tasting kits will be $9.
The competition and festivities will kick off with the 2007 ICS winners parading down Washington Street on a fire truck, signaling the lighting of the cooks' stoves. Radio personalities from WJRZ 100.1 FM and 95.9 FM The WRAT will be on hand to emcee the day's events. Festival attendees will enjoy the musical sounds of Boccigalupe & the Bad Boys and Debra Dynamite and The Torpedoes, in addition to the excitement of inflatable rides, games, contests and street performers.
Winners will be announced at a 4:30 pm awards ceremony, where they will share a total of $4,500 in prize money.The first-place winners in each ICS category will be eligible to compete in the 2008 ICS World Chili Championship. Returning for his eighth straight year to oversee the official ICS judging will be Steve Falkowski, the 1997 New Jersey state and ICS World Champion, teamed up with his wife, Audrey, who is the Chief Scorekeeper. 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.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 World 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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