Pass the antacids, because what is simmering in Petaluma is not for the faint of stomach. Bowl after bowl of sweat-inducing fire will be ladled out to fearless guests at the 17th annual Great Petaluma Chili Cook-off, Salsa and Beer Tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.
"We have a record number of challengers and the most breweries than we've had in the past," said Chili Empress Laura Sunday, organizer of the event, which raises funds for Cinnabar Theater's youth programs. "Forty teams signed up from as far as Danville, Burlingame and Signal Hill in Southern California."
The list of cook-off participants features some longtime competitors and former champions, such as Tree Huggin' Hippie Chili and the Crazy Kelts. There are also several newbies this year, including Wishbone, Pub Republic, Zodiacs, Sax's Joint and Bellyfull Dinners.
Firefighters usually spend their time putting out fires, but the chili cookoff also gives departments a chance to start them in hopes of winning the coveted Fireman's Ax award. Competing departments this year are the Hayward Fire Department, Petaluma Fire Department, Santa Rosa Fire Department and the San Antonio Volunteer Fire Department.
The chili competition categories are meat and vegetarian chilis, which are further divided into the categories of restaurant/caterers, businesses, service organizations and individuals. The salsa categories are divided into traditional and fruit salsas.
Those attending the cookoff get to vote for their favorite chili, salsa and beer — helping that team win a People's Choice Award.
The VIP Judges Awards are given out by a panel of community members who volunteer to blind taste all the chilis and salsas.
To help avoid any instances of spontaneous combustion, there will be more than a dozen breweries from around the Bay Area keeping things cool at the cookoff, including all five of Petaluma's breweries: Lagunitas, Petaluma Hills, 101 North Brewing Company, Hen House and Dempsey's.
"This is a pretty big deal because three of them don't even have a tasting room so this is a Petaluma beer lover's dream come true," said Houston Porter, "Supreme Court Chief Justice" of the cookoff. "Because Petaluma is garnering all sorts of attention as the new micro brew mecca, we are planning on putting those five breweries together so people who want the 'Petaluma Brew Experience' will know where to go."
There will also be live music by Paulie's Garage and Stony Point, along with performances by the Sister Sirens Belly Dancers and Fierce Dance Company's hip hop dancers.
The cookoff is held rain or shine in Behren's Park and Herzog Hall on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive.
Tickets in advance are $40 for chili, salsa and beer tasting; $25 for chili and salsa tasting only; $10 kids ages 5 to 11; and free for kids under 5.
For more information and to purchase tickets, go online to greatchili cookoff.com. Tickets will also be available at the gate.
(Contact Yovanna Bieberich at yovanna.bieberich@arguscourier.com)
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