On a cold February day, the warmest place in Palos Park was inside, where chili pots simmered, music filled the room and a long-running village tradition returned with Chili in the Park on Saturday, Feb. 7.
“This event really shows the staying power of something simple done well,” said Stephen DeFalco, director of recreation and parks for the Village of Palos Park. “To have a chili cookoff continue more than 20 years, with only a handful of cancellations, is remarkable at a time when cooking-based events are disappearing nationwide.”
The chili cookoff traced its roots back to 2004 as part of the Parade and Chili Cook Off, which later evolved into the Autumn in the Park Festival. Seven years ago, organizers moved the competition to February, when winter weather makes a warm bowl of chili especially appealing.
“Moving the event to February allowed it to really hit the spot,” said Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters. “It was a chilly afternoon, and families got a chance to come together, enjoy a warm meal and vote for their favorites.”
The event, sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International, drew cooks from across the Midwest. Twenty-two competitors signed up to prepare their chili entirely from scratch on site, with no bottled sauces or beans allowed, DeFalco said. A handful of day-of participants brought the total closer to 25.
Cooks traveled from Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana, creating a competitive field that included both seasoned competitors and first-time entrants. Among the veteran cooks was Debra Hunt of Dolton, who has competed in chili cookoffs for more than 20 years and took home the Illinois State Championship last year.
“What makes my chili stand out is that I cook with heart,” Hunt said.
Mike Famartino of Mokena also returned to tradition when selecting his recipe.
“I changed things up and dug up an old family recipe,” Famartino said.
Palos Park resident Jay Vincent participated in the competition for the first time after attending the event as a taster for many years.
“Last year the village had to unfortunately cancel the event because they did not have enough entries, so this year I decided to come out and support the event by bringing my own chili,” Vincent said.
Vincent said his recipe differed from others because it combined traditional chili with a blend of spices and chili powders, a mixture he believed set it apart from the competition.
Tasting cups were sold for $5, allowing guests to sample chili and vote for the People’s Choice Award. The price has remained unchanged since the earliest days of the cookoff. Cash and credit cards were accepted, with a processing fee applied to card purchases. Non-alcoholic beverages were also available, and admission to the event was free.
Judging was handled by local residents and seasoned chili judges, who evaluated each entry on aroma, color, consistency, taste and aftertaste. Each category was scored on a scale of 1 to 10.
The top three chilis received trophies, while additional finalists earned certificates. All competitors accumulated points toward qualifying for national chili competitions in Texas. Additional honors included a showmanship award for the best decorated or themed booth and a People’s Choice Award that carried a cash prize.
“I absolutely loved this event because it brought so many members of the community together,” Milovich-Walters said. “It was genuinely heartwarming to see families take an hour or two out of a chilly afternoon to sample the chilis and vote for their favorites. Getting to taste so many different chilis, each with its own distinct flavor, was always a highlight for me. I’m also grateful to the volunteers, chili cooks and residents who made this event a success. Their enthusiasm is what kept it going year after year.”
DeFalco said Chili in the Park continues to thrive because it offers residents a reason to gather during the winter months.
“It brought people together when getting out can be harder,” he said. “With so many cooks this year, it was a great event for sampling and spending time with neighbors.”
The overall winner of the friendly compeition was Tracy Hoffman, of Adams, Wisconsin. The Showmanship Award went to Debra Hunt, of Dolton, and the People’s Choice Winner was Jay Vincent, of Palos Park.
