This Weekend’s Great Chili Cook-Off heats up with Tuesday’s preliminary judging

In preparation for this weekend’s annual Great Petaluma Chili Cook-Off (which includes an all-you-can-taste salsa sampling and a massive beer tasting), the traditional pre-cook-off Golden Spoon judging took place Tuesday, May 15 at Rosen’s 256 North restaurant.

A spicy preliminary to the popular spring cook-off event – taking place Saturday afternoon, May 19, at the Petaluma Fairgrounds – the Golden Spoon contest allows chili-cooking competitors to be tasted and judged by a distinguished panel, who will announce their decision during on Saturday. In addition, the chefs are also competing to win the People’s Choice judging during the four-hour chili, salsa and beer extravaganza. The same recipes tasted by the panel of judges on Tuesday will be available on a vast scale during the cook-off.

The event, as always, is a significant fundraiser for numerous youth programs at Cinnabar Theater. The company’s Young Repertory group is currently staging a production of the effervescent musical “Bye Bye Birdie,” featuring such songs as “Put on a Happy Face,” “Kids,” and “One Last Kiss.” Money raised during the chili cook-off support the highly popular local program.

On the day of the Golden Spoon judging, chefs delivered their spicy concoctions at 1 p.m. and the panel began tasting at 2 p.m. According to Cinnabar’s Executive Director, Diane Dragone, about 20 submissions were in competition.

“The judges had a great time tasting,” she said.

This year’s panel included Corrine Asturias of the Press Democrat, Brewster’s Beer Garden owner Chris Beerman, and chili-lovers Mark Yuwiler and Dennis Wigent.