Grand Central chili cookoff is Saturday

ST. PETERSBURG — If the Thanksgiving leftovers and turkey sandwiches already have your taste buds longing for a challenge, consider the Grand Central District's 6th Annual Chili Cookoff.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and offers entertainment for the whole family.

New this year is the neighborhood chili challenge, which allows up to five chili entries (under one tent) from each neighborhood that signs up for the cookoff. Winners will receive handmade clay plaques by local artist Harvey Sadowski.

A $10 tasting ticket will allow patrons to test more than 20 offerings of chili. Admission also includes a chili cookbook as well as a right to vote for the People's Choice award.

Last year's winners served up attention-grabbing names like Gastronomical Adventures in Chili (by Garey's Gourmet Hot Dogs) and Zombie Brains (by Quick Q BBQ). Other contestants had unusual yet tasty flavors, including mango and seafood. Even a dark chocolate chili was introduced by the Queens Head Restaurant.

"Any kind of chili you want to make you can enter. This is not your grandma's chili here," said Mona Burrows, past president of the Grand Central District Association and chairwoman of the Chili Cookoff committee since 2005.

The judges will include St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster, City Council member Wengay Newton and fire Chief Mike Zamparelli. There will be first- and second-place awards for Best Restaurant, Best Individual and Best Business. There will be one award for People's Choice and another for Best Tent.

A wheelbarrow full of spirits — enough to stock a full bar — will be raffled off, Burrows said.

Additional side streets will be closed to traffic in the 2400 and 2500 blocks, with the kids corner on one side and a big tent with tables and chairs for patrons on the other.

"The aim is to make it more of a family outing with a larger kids corner this year. We're going to have a rock climbing wall, bounce house, face painting and a real stock car. We'll also have a fire truck and crew to teach fire safety," Burrows said.

Three bands will entertain: Relentless, Gold-N-Fire and Doc Hamilton.

Event organizers are expecting about 60 booths within the three blocks of Central Avenue (2400 through 2600). About half of the booths will feature chili cookoff contestants; the others, local vendors.