Chili Cookoff Rules
Rules and Requirements
Bubba’s Sixth Annual
Shanghai Chili Cook-off
Rules/Information for Participating Teams
- Entry fee per team is 200 rmb (non-refundable; includes official cook-off t-shirt for up to four team members)
- Teams can be sponsored by a corporation, restaurant, or individuals and should consist of one Head Chef, and up to three other members
- This year we will be able to secure discounted hotel suites (400 rmb for a two bedroom suite) for teams who wish to stay on the grounds on Friday night prior to the cook off and/or on Saturday night after the cook off; suites have small kitchenettes for prepping and staging your ingredients
- Bubba’s will host a team party on Friday night and an after party on Saturday night followed by brunch on Sunday
- Team booths will be assigned on Friday evening during the team party at Bubba’s Expo Village…teams that sign up first and pay will get first choice on spots
- Entry form can be e-mailed to kennethjoewalker@gmail.com or dropped off at Bubba’s Bar-B-Que with the entry fee
- Awards will be presented for Best Overall Chili, Best Pro Chef Chili, Best Independent Team Chili, and Second and Third place runner up chilies along with the G-Man Award for Best Theme/Showmanship
- Teams must cook chili onsite on the morning of October 22, pre-prep can take place at home, such as dicing onions, tomatoes, etc., or grinding/slicing peppers and spices; however, all cooking, browning, smoking, and sautéing must take place on the chili cook-off grounds
- Teams can arrive any time before 7 a.m. to set-up but cooking cannot start until 7 a.m.
- Each team should use a minimum of 8 pounds of meat, using their choice of chicken, pork, beef, lamb, goat, or any exotic legal meat they choose
- Beans will not be accepted, along with other “foreign objects” such as corn, rice, pasta, fruit, etc. Chili entries deemed to contain such items will be disqualified from judging
- You will need to bring your own cooking tools, such as skillets if needed, chili pot, serving ladle, chopping knives, butcher boards, etc
- Each team will have a table plus a one or two table top gas burners
- You will also be responsible for decorating your booth based on your theme
- Official judging will take place using a blind tasting process as outlined by CASI. Chili will be judged based on color, aroma, and taste
- The People’s Choice Award will be decided by the public.


