Chili Cook Off

The Chili Cook Off had 9 contestants offering their signature chili for you to try!

What an incredible day at the Maennerchor! Nine talented cooks competed, and the crowd picked their favorites. Admission to the sample area was $5, with all proceeds benefiting the building fund.

Our 2026 Chili Cook Off contestants with their signature recipes

🏆 Winner: Tom's White Chicken Chili

Tom took first place with his incredible White Chicken Chili. Here's his winning recipe:

Tom's White Chicken Chili

Dice three poblano peppers, two celery stalks, one whole onion, and three cloves of garlic. In a pan melt half a stick of butter. When melted, add vegetables and fry until onions are clear.

In a large pot add three cans of cannellini beans (do not drain), one small can of chillies, two small cans of tomatoes and chillies, two tablespoons of chili powder, and a couple shakes of red pepper powder. Salt to taste. Add one small can of chicken broth.

In the frying pan add a pound of ground chicken. Sprinkle with olive oil and fry until brown. Drain and add to pot. Cover and simmer for two hours. Uncover and simmer for another hour, stirring occasionally. To thicken, mix one tablespoon of corn starch with chicken broth or water in a small glass, stir, then add to pot.

🌶 Chili Pepper Trivia

Guests also enjoyed our Chili Pepper Trivia contest. How many can you answer?

1. What is the unit of measurement for pepper heat?
2. Seeds are the spiciest part of the chili. True or False?
3. Which animal is immune to chili heat?
4. What is the official state dish of Texas?
5. What pepper is currently known as the hottest pepper in the world?
6. How do you combat a burning mouth from chili?
7. Texas style chili omits what?
8. What language did the word "chili" originate from?
9. What place is chili thought to originate from in America?
10. Are the bigger and redder the chili, the hottest? True or False?

Answers: 1. Scoville 2. False (it's the membrane/pith) 3. Birds 4. Chili 5. Carolina Reaper 6. Dairy (milk) 7. Beans 8. Nahuatl (Aztec) 9. San Antonio, Texas 10. False