What’s the secret to winning the annual Belleville Chili Cook-off? We asked past winners

Meredith Howard
·4 min read

The 39th annual Belleville Chili Cook-off kicks off Friday, and this year’s event will feature more than 45 vendors, five musical performances and a 5K race.

Most vendors offer chili samples for $0.50 to $1.50, according to Wendy Pfeil, president and CEO of the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce. The chamber of commerce has organized the cook-off for more than 15 years, and Pfeil said each vendor offers a unique take on the popular fall dish.

“Everybody’s chili is different, I’ve never tasted two chilis that taste exactly the same or even have the same recipe,” Pfeil said.

Other than the beer tokens, which can be purchased at a designated stand, most items at the cook-off are available for cash only.

The contest is judged by a panel which includes culinary experts as well as local officials or business owners. The competition is split into two categories, restaurant/caterer and non-restaurant, and a people’s choice award is also given.

To vote in the people’s choice category, you can deposit a dollar in the bucket at a vendor’s booth. One dollar is one vote, so you can vote more than once if you choose. This year’s people’s choice proceeds will be donated to Community Interfaith Food Pantry.

“Sometimes the people’s choice winner is more coveted than the actual winners from the culinary judges themselves,” Pfeil said.

What is the secret to cook-off winning chili?

One group in particular has had recurring success in the people’s choice contest – the Belleville Firefighters Local 53. The department’s staff begins cook-off preparations in July, chili cook-off union chairman Nick Lombardo told the News-Democrat, and they typically use about 2,000 pounds of ground beef in the recipe.

“It’s all hands on deck,” Lombardo said.

More than 30 firefighters usually participate in making the chili, Lombardo added, and the department has sold out for at least the past couple years. The department won the people’s choice award in 2022, and while Lombardo said he wasn’t sure exactly how many times they’d brought it home, they have won the award in the past.

Lombardo advised those entering the cook-off to think outside of the box when developing their recipe.

“Don’t be scared to take risks with the chili. And take your time with organization and setup,” Lombardo said. “Don’t be afraid to try new things and test it out.”

Another winner from 2022’s cook-off was Belleville coffee shop and cafe Joe and Onie’s. Last year was the first time Joe and Onie’s participated in the event, owner Steve Hemmer told the News-Democrat.

“We were just really, really surprised and excited about being chosen as the first place of the restaurant division,” Hemmer said.

Staff with Joe and Onie’s teamed up with members of the Shriners in East St. Louis to develop their winning recipe, Hemmer said, and he anticipates bringing the same recipe to this year’s cook-off.

Along with their award-winning chili, the Joe and Onie’s booth will also sell “Hemdogs” at the cook-off. The 1.25-pound hotdogs are labeled after a family nickname, Hemmer added, and they were a fan favorite last year.

While many cook-off participants may not have the time to explore other booths during the event weekend, Hemmer said he got to try every booth’s chili one year, before Joe and Onie’s was a participating vendor.

“Trust me, I would never do that again,” Hemmer said.

Although chili sampling is what the cook-off is known for, this year’s menu will feature many other options as well, including ice cream, deep-fried oreos, crab rangoons, macaroni and cheese, veggie tacos, pulled pork sandwiches and more. The Belleville Chili Cook-off website has menu information for each vendor.

2023 Chili cook-off schedule

This year’s chili cook-off events will be held from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 6 and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 7.

Here’s this year’s festival schedule, according to organizers:

Friday, Oct. 6:

  • 11 a.m. Festival opens

  • Noon The Saloonatics perform on the Main Stage

  • 3:15 p.m. Chili judging at the St. Clair County Annex Building

  • 5:45 p.m. Wildfire performs on the Main Stage

  • 9:15 p.m. Souvenir stand and token booths close

  • 9:30 p.m. Beer stands close

  • 10 p.m. Festival closes

Saturday, Oct. 7:

  • 9 a.m. Chili Chase 5K Run

  • 11 a.m. Festival opens; Stompbox and the Mixtapes perform on the Main Stage

  • 2 p.m. CheriBomb performs on the Main Stage

  • 5 p.m. Chili cook-off awards at the Main Stage

  • 5:45 p.m. Steve Ewing performs on the Main Stage

  • 8:15 p.m. Souvenir stand and token booths close

  • 8:30 p.m. Beer stands close

  • 9 p.m. Festival closes