Below are the categories and prizes available at the Carolinas Chili Championship (CCC), along with the ICS OFFICIAL RULES. Please review these important details.
Category information on this page is cursory and incomplete and is provided for preliminary guidance only. The Carolinas Chili Championship OFFICIAL RULES and the Rules and Regulations for cooks at the World’s Championship prepared by the International Chili Society for ICS categories are controlling. Other than the prizes and awards, rely on this information at your peril, so please read the ICS OFFICIAL RULES @ the following link: www.chilicookoff.com. Carolinas Chili Championship follows ICS official rules and all decisions by the Carolinas Chili Championship head judge are binding .
INTERNATIONAL CHILI SOCIETY TRADITIONAL RED CHILI (ICS Red)
Defined by the International Chili Society as any kind of meat or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients, with the exception of beans and pasta which are strictly forbidden. No garnish is allowed.
PRIZE: 1st PLACE: $$$$ and Award * 2nd PLACE: $200 and Award * 3rd PLACE: $100 and Award
INTERNATIONAL CHILI SOCIETY HOMESTYLE CHILI
Defined by the International Chili Society as any kind of meat/combination of meats and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers/powders, various spices and other ingredients. BEANS ARE REQUIRED. Preference is not given to either cut meat or ground meat. Seafood is considered meat. Homestyle chili may be any color, including red, green, white and yellow.
PRIZE: 1st PLACE: $$$ and Award * 2nd PLACE: $200 and Award * 3rd PLACE: $100 and Award
INTERNATIONAL CHILI SOCIETY CHILI VERDE (ICS Green)
Defined by the International Chili Society as any kind of meat or combination of meats, cooked with green chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients, with the exception of beans and pasta which are strictly forbidden. No garnish is allowed.
PRIZE: 1st PLACE: $$$ and Award * 2nd PLACE: $200 and Award * 3rd PLACE: $100 and Award
INTERNATIONAL CHILI SOCIETY SALSA
While no set of ingredients is required for the preparation of salsa, it should contain chiles. Other vegetable, fruit, spice and herb ingredients may be added at the cook’s discretion. Salsa MUST be homemade. Commercial salsa will not be accepted. Salsa may be prepared ahead of time or on site.
PRIZE: 1st PLACE: $$ and Award * 2nd PLACE: $50 and Award * 3rd PLACE: $25 and Award
CCC OPEN ANYTHING GOES CHILI
This is not an ICS category. As the name suggests, there are no pre-set guidelines. Entries in this category can have meat, chili peppers, pre- cooked or canned tomatoes, various spices, any variety of beans, pasta, and other ingredients; even garnishes are also an option. Chili that is entered in this category can be prepared on site or it can be prepared in advance and brought to the Carolinas Chili Championship if it meets health-code requirements. Entries in this category are welcome to enter any other category, however must meet all of the requirements for said category. Contestants entering this category will do so as one of the following:
*Individual – Awards TBD
*Charity/Non-Profit – (any not for profit enterprise) – Awards TBD
*Commercial – (any for profit enterprise) – Awards TBD
OPEN – ANYTHING GOES CHILI CHAMPION PRIZE:
1st PLACE: $500 and Award 2nd PLACE: $200 and Award 3rd PLACE: $100 and Award
Entering any of the above categories also allows contestants to compete in the following:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE:
CCC will provide an official container with the team number on the bottom. Each of the tasting kits provided to the public will include a plastic gold coin as well as a few other items. The contestant with the most gold coins in their container wins the People’s Choice prize. The schedule in the Cook’s Packet will provide the time to return the container. Inviting family, friends, and co-workers will increase chances to win.
Public sampling is a very important component of the Carolinas Chili Championship. A minimum of 2 gallons is required but 5 – 10 gallons is recommended to ensure that you have enough chili to last throughout the event. The longer you have chili to serve the better your chances to claim the People’s Choice Award.
PRIZE: 1st PLACE: $1,000 and Award
SHOWMANSHIP:
Costumes: Matching T-shirts or aprons are options, however, know that judges are looking for splashy, colorful uniforms/costumes that represent the team name and theme.
Crowd Engagement: Cleverness, a sense of humor and playful antics that engage and entertain the crowd creating a sense of excitement will score well here. Carolinas Chili Championship asks that all contestants be willing to be photographed and interviewed.
Creativity: Judges will be looking for booth decor that conveys a theme and creates a memorable visual effect for the public.
PRIZE: 1st PLACE: Award TBD