2023 Freezefest Chilly Cook-Off
Saturday, January 21st
11 am - 2 pm
The Mill (642 N. Madison St, Bloomington, Indiana)
Thanks to your support, the 2023 United Way Chilly Cook-Off was SOLD OUT!
HUGE THANKS to all the chefs, guests, volunteers, judges, and sponsors for shining bright and making the 2nd United Way Chilly Cook-Off such a success!
Congratulations to the winners:
Most Creative
Alexander Scrivener
Alexander’s Famous Chili
Best Professional
Claire Vesyoly and Rosie Meade
(Ivy Tech Community College)
Delicious Chili
Best Vegetarian
Claire Vesyoly and Rosie Meade
(Ivy Tech Community College)
Delicious Chili
Best Overall
Alexander Scrivener
Alexander’s Famous Chili
People's Choice
Neville “Fire Lord” Vaughan
(City of Bloomington Fire Dept.)
Chili Bombero
"Some Like It Hot" Chili Eating Contest
Kenny Rusk
BIG CHILLY THANKS to all the chefs, guests, volunteers, judges, and sponsors for making the 2023 United Way Chilly Cook-Off such a great community-building event enjoyed by a SOLD OUT crowd of more than 250 community members!
Attendees got the chance to sample 20 different varieties of chili – prepared by both home chefs and professional chefs – and then voted for their favorite.
The festivities took place at The Mill during Freezefest. Big appreciation to Chocolate Moose for donating ice cream and to Two Sticks Bakery for contributing cinnamon rolls.
All proceeds from the event will go toward United Way to lift up neighbors and build stronger communities.
A panel of judges determined best overall, best vegetarian, most creative, and best professional.
At half-time 6 brave souls entered the “Some Like It Hot” Chili-Eating Contest to see who could devour the largest amount of spicy chili in a matter of seconds.
We’re excited to share all of these great moments captured by photographers Paul Ericson, Jerry Sutherlin, and Jenn Hottell.
Share your photos with us and use #ChillyCookOff so we can see them!
2023 Chilly Chef Lineup
Home Chefs
Jessica Allen
Crack Chicken Chili
Jordan Arnholt
(Ain’t Bad BBQ)
Jordan’s Chili
John Bailey
Death By Peppers!
Cindy Chambers
Hillbilly Chili
Noelle Conyer
Red Rocket Chili
Oliver Deer
Nova’s Halfling Chili
Michael Griffin
Not Your Momma's Chili
Cynthia Herrera Alley
Tia CC’s Chili
Jacob Irven
Hamster Meat (just kidding it’s beef) Chili
James Kerr
Salsa Macha Beef & Bean Chili
Tania Lattimore
(Brownie’s Bean Blossom Family Restaurant)
Lucky Cluckers
Christian Leighton
(IU Credit Union)
Christian’s Chili
Megan Ransdell
Better Than Therapy Chili
Alexander Scrivener
Alexander’s Famous Chili
Brett Tabor
(IU Credit Union)
Texas Brisket Chili
Neville “Fire Lord” Vaughan
(City of Bloomington Fire Dept.)
Chili Bombero
Karen White
Mama Smoke’s Chili
Kyle Winkler
Texas Style Chili
Professional Chefs
Dustie Condon
(The Tasty Plate)
Protein Punch Pulled Oat Chili
Vegan
Clard Davidson
(Chef’s Table Catering)
Thick and Lovely
Claire Vesyoly and Rosie Meade
(Ivy Tech Community College)
Delicious Chili
Vegan
Jacob Lucas
(Beacon Inc @ Shalom Center)
Darn Good Soup Kitchen
Jeff Mease
(Lennie’s)
Voodoo Chile
Dave White
(Great White Smoke BBQ Co.)
Top Shelf Smokehouse Chili
Freezefest is a community winter celebration taking place annually the third weekend in January featuring world-class ice carvers and a full lineup of winter activities. Visit www.freezefest.com for more information and a full schedule and map of festival activities.
Thanks to our event sponsors:
Some Like It Hot
Ring of Fire
IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
The Grateful Red
Baugh Fine Print and Mailing
Bloomington Township
Chocolate Moose
Free Think Apparel and Promos
One World Catering
Printpack
Prosecuting Attorney Erika Oliphant
Two Sticks Bakery
Thanks to all who supported the inaugural Freezefest 2020 United Way Chilly Cook-Off. A big thank you to all the community chefs and volunteers who helped make the event such a success. Read the 2020 event recap here.