Chase residents will be cooking up a storm in the name of history.
The delicious smells of chili will be wafting out of the Underwood Hotel this weekend as the first-ever chili cook-off kicks off Aug. 17.
The idea for the event came to Diana Ball, curator of the Chase and District Museum and Archive, as she was visiting Vic Calvert, the owner of the hotel.
She was astounded by the work he had done inside the historic building.
“It is beautiful in there,” Ball said. “He has done a wonderful job and I wanted people to see it.”
The museum’s annual golf tournament fundraiser didn’t do as well as they would have liked this year so Ball was already brainstorming new ways to raise funds.
The chili cook-off is a way to allow locals to see the new historic building and help out the museum all at once.
Ball pitched the idea to Calvert who not only allowed her to use the building, but did so free-of-charge.
So far Ball has six confirmed competitors in the cook-off and she is waiting on more confirmations.
All those participating in the competition will give their best shot at claiming the first-place prize and the bragging rights of making the best chili in the village.
“I want it to be filled with a fun atmosphere and a little bit of rivalry,” Ball said.
Each dish will be judged by a panel of three secret judges, with the winners announced at the end of the event.
Chase locals who attend can also cast a ballet for their favourite.
The results will be tallied and the pot with the most votes will win the People’s Choice Award, Ball said.
A cash prize of $100 will be given to the first-place winner, $50 to second place and $25 to the third.
Ball promises that the event will be taking place next year, so those who missed the Thursday registration deadline can start perfecting their recipes for next year.
“I picture having it on the street next year, with each participant under their own tent,” Ball said. She hopes to make it into a festival-type event but is staying focused on this year for now.
Tickets are being sold at various locations in Chase before the event including Safety Mart and the museum itself.
There will be no tickets sold at the door due to the liquor licence; however, those who want to snag a last-minute ticket can pick them up at Naramada throughout the event.
There will be a bar section for those who wish to have a cold one with their chili, but attendees are reminded that ID will be required.
The dining area will be open for families to come in and find their favourite chili, as well as snack on some local corn and buns.
Ball said no one will leave hungry and the chili will continue to be served until the pots run out. Those wishing to attend should try and pick up their tickets early as only 100 are being sold.
