Voted the World’s Best Seaside Park

Rides Closed Sunday Sep 18, 20222 Due to Rain.

Saturday, October 22, 2022

Bring your appetite and join the fun as both professional and amateur chefs work their culinary magic and compete for the title of Best Chili!

Cook-Off Schedule

  • 9am-10am: Chef’s prep (no heat)
  • 10am-1pm: Chili cook time
  • 10am: Tasting Kits go on sale
  • 1pm: Public tasting begins
  • 4pm: Winners announced at the Colonnade Stage (beachside of Neptune’s Kingdom)
Spoon stirring chili in pot

Try Some Chili!

Boardwalk admission is free! Just purchase a Tasting Kit to sample chili from dozens of competitors. Tasting Kits are $12 each and include six (6) taste tickets, spoon, cup, and a People’s Choice ballot. Purchase your tasting kit(s) onsite at any ticket booth. 

Portion of Proceeds

A portion of the proceeds from Tasting Kit sales will benefit The Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller Memorial. On June 6, 2020, Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller was killed in the line of duty while serving Santa Cruz County. This Memorial at Willowbrook Park will ensure his sacrifice is never forgotten. MORE INFO
Sgt Damon Gutzwiller

Enter a Team!

The competition features four categories:

  • Amateur Red
  • Amateur Vegetarian Red
  • Professional Red
  • Professional Vegetarian Red

Awards are given for Best Chili in each category, plus People’s Choice, Most Tasted, and Best Theme.

Awards include plaques, cash prizes, and bragging rights!

Click here for a list of teams registered as of today. Please let us know if your team is listed incorrectly or if you see any discrepancies by emailing [email protected].

Team Entry Closed

Team Rules & Info

Registration Deadline: October 14, 2022

Enter A Team Team Rules & Info

Team Registration Coming Soon!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated! We hope to see you all again next year!

2022 Chili Cook-Off Results

Best Professional Red

  1. East Side Eatery – Death Wish Chili, Derek Rupp
  2. Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge, Gus Trejo
  3. Old Greenwood BBQ, Ryan Pang

Best Amateur Red

  1. DPD BBQ, David Brearley
  2. Swine, Wine and Love, Elizabeth Higgins
  3. 4 Smoking Men, Wayne Locke

Best Professional Vegetarian Red

  1. Café Guaraní, Liliana Rodas
  2. Midgley’s Public House, Michael Jon Midgley Jr.
  3. Coasties Rescue Red Chili, Kendra Garza

Best Amateur Vegetarian Red

  1. Oink and Moo, Doug Ludlow
  2. Pottsfield Chili, Rachel Watts
  3. Rugged Coast, Andrew Carroll

People’s Choice Professional:

East Side Eatery – Death Wish Chili, Derek Rupp

People’s Choice Amateur:

 Dirato’s Grotto, Mark Dirato

“Most Tasted” Professional:

East Side Eatery – Death Wish Chili, Derek Rupp

“Most Tasted” Amateur:

Dirato’s Grotto, Mark Dirato

Most Original Team (Booth Decor & Theming)

  1. Best Bloody Chili, Ryan Compton
  2. 2 Chicks Chilie, Kelli Dicicco Siefke
  3. Bean-ee Babiez, Ray Guzman

Thank you to our Chili Cook-Off Sponsors

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