Annual Houston Kosher Chili Cookoff Marks Another Successful 7th Year Celebration

The 7th Annual Houston Kosher Chili Cookoff raised a record breaking amount for its charities on Sunday, February 26, 2017 with the help of over 3,000 cookoff attendees. Thirty-four local organizations and businesses fired up the competition during the 7th Annual Houston Kosher Chili Cookoff with their unique kosher chili recipes to benefit the seven local Jewish Day Schools and the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center’s Meals on Wheels Program.

The cookoff gathered the Houston Jewish community on a beautiful, sunny day to enjoy live music, a moonwalk, an obstacle course, balloon artists and face painting all while sampling some of Houston’s best kosher chili. The primary purpose of the cookoff is to provide and maintain a low cost family-friendly community event for all regardless of affiliation.

Attendees also spiced up the event with bids on silent auction items and raffles during the sets of several local live entertainment acts. The event began with The Danny Gavin Band, followed by the Houston’s Young Kletzmer Band. The cookoff ended with celebrity and media food judges announcing winners from the 34 sampled kosher chili recipe entries received throughout the cookoff.

The coveted best chili and first place award was presented to the Aishel House “Holy Chili Peppers” team.

Following up closely behind, the Friendship Circle/Chabad Outreach/Chai Learning Center of West Houston team received second place and the Congregation Emanu El Boy Scout Troop 1190 team finished third. The Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services team won the Showmanship Award and the Greene Family Camp received the People’s Choice Award. All winning teams were presented with trophies.

Photo Credit: Dr. David Cotlar