To Bean or not To Bean?

Chili inspires competition in a way that few other foods can. After all, when was the last time you attended a Mashed Potato Match or a Beet-Down? There are as many chili varieties as there are chili chefs, and at today’s Missouri Chili Cook-Off & Salsa Competition, you can enjoy spicy spoonfuls of the region’s best recipes. The cook-off, now in its 32nd year, takes place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Westport Plaza (I-270 and Page Avenue, Maryland Heights). Competition categories include Salsa, Red Chili, Green Chili, People’s Choice White Chili and Vegetarian Chili, and there will be plenty of cold drinks available to extinguish the mouth-fire. And the entertainment isn’t confined to the obligatory bean jokes -- there’s also music provided by local bands Spur Country, Groovethang and Johnny Rock-Itt. Tickets are $5, kids younger than twelve are admitted free, and chili and salsa samples cost 50 cents apiece. The proceeds from this day of convivial competition go to the National Kidney Foundation of Eastern Missouri and Metro East. Call 314-961-2828 or visit www.nkfstl.com for more information.
Sat., Sept. 29, 2007