Nearly 20,000 visitors packing C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines enjoyed a day of drinks and tunes during the 31st Annual 99.9 KISS Country Chili Cook-Off.
The concert began in the early morning and closed out with headlining hit-makers Little Big Time taking the stage.
“It has been great,” said Rob Morris, vice president of programming for CBS Miami. “Between all the artists we have here, you can count and there are at least 15 to 20 number ones between them. The Cook-Off is comparable to any festival or stadium show out there. We have already started for next year.”
The Cook-Off is Colleen Stott’s favorite day of the year. The Pompano Beach resident has been coming to the event since its inception at Quiet Waters Park.
“I love it,” Stott said. “We sit in the same spot, and everybody knows they can find us by the top of the hill and the Ford truck. It’s been a family affair.”
Benisa Levin, of Boca Raton, and Kelley Duane, of Tamarac, enjoyed taking in their first one.
“We were excited to see all the country acts and even more excited to find chili we could actually eat,” Levin said. “Glad we got here early, but there are people from all age groups and background here to have a good time”
Besides the music, the Chili Cook-Off wouldn’t be complete without the chili. The International Chili Society judged more than 110 entries and 60 salsas. It’s a process of elimination with preliminary and final rounds. Among the decision-makers was Sergei Kowalchik, who has been a member of the organization since 1981 and a cook for 12 years.
“Taste and flavor is the number one thing we look for,” he said. “But you are looking for a blend and presentation.”
The Cook-Off challengers are a mix of professionals looking to qualify for the next event and others doing it as a fun social activity. Many of the vendors create an experience with their presentation like Chili Lockdown’s makeshift prison and Poker Boys Saloon. Tim Farnan, of Plantation, recalls coming to the event since he was a kid but has been participating in the cook-off for two years.
“It’s really a great community event,” he said. “Everyone is walking around with smiles on their face happy. There are certain people take things very seriously, but at the end of the day it’s a friendly competition.”
Justine Levine thought his recipe would be a standout among the rest. It’s his fourth year lending a hand at the booth.
“Everyone here is made up of all firemen, police, vets and all backgrounds,” he said. “We are all workers and look out for each other. We all like good music and food.”
