Rapids’ 2024 Chili Cook-Off

This year, Rapids Chili Cook-Off was held in not just one, but two locations—Marion’s main warehouse in Iowa and our retail location in St. Paul, Minnesota. Hosted by the Culture Club and in support of the United Way, the event turned into a spirited (and delicious!) competition, showcasing creativity, flavor, and community spirit.

Marion 2024 Chili Cook-Off

At the Marion warehouse, we had a record 10 chili entries and 29 judges, raising $190 for the United Way of Eastern Iowa! The variety of chilis impressed the judges, with many finding it hard to choose just one favorite. The chili was labeled for blind judging, and participants enjoyed not just the chili but also sides like hot dogs with cheese sauce for chili dogs.

A special shout-out to Yvonne, who ensured all the chili entries were stirred regularly to guarantee a perfect tasting experience for the judges.

After a close competition and a tie-breaking vote, the winners were announced:

3rd Place

This year’s contest was so competitive that a tie for first place had to be broken by Eric Colby! The winning chili turned out to be a molé chili with smoky undertones, featuring ingredients like chocolate, brown sugar, and adobo peppers—a recipe submitted by Nick Schmitt and created with the help of ChatGPT. Meanwhile, third place was awarded to a first-time chili maker, Mercedes Robinson, making her victory even sweeter.

St. Paul 2024 Chili Cook-Off

In a thrilling first, St. Paul joined the tradition, hosting their own chili cook-off! Though the Minnesota event was smaller in scale, with 4 chili entries, the excitement and camaraderie were just as strong. Employees up north enjoyed participating in this fun tradition, and we’re hopeful this will become an annual event for them as well. With more participants each year, the competition will surely grow.

The 1st place in St. Paul went to the winner:

His chili earned high praise from the judges, making his victory the perfect capstone to St. Paul’s inaugural cook-off. We can’t wait to see how they build on this new tradition next year.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who participated, from chili cooks and judges to the teams behind the scenes. The 2024 Chili Cook-Off was not only a culinary delight but a chance to come together for a good cause, raising funds for the United Way while creating lasting memories. We look forward to seeing everyone at next year’s event for even more fun, flavor, and friendly competition!