Chili Cook-Off To Raise Money For Habitat For Humanity

Chefs from across the valley will be tightening their apron strings and packing their lucky ladles for the third annual chili cook-off Sunday, March 6, at  in South Whitehall.

The cook-off, which raises money for Habitat for Humanity, brings together members from The Barn, a non-denominational church that meets at  in Salisbury, Keneseth Israel in Allentown, Muhlenberg College, , and La Trinidad Church. Each is sending their best chili cooks to compete.

The church will also be serving hot dogs, cornbread and soda to visitors--- not that anyone should need additional food, said Dick McCreight, a member of Asbury United Methodist who's been involved with the event all three years. "The tasting cups are only two ounces, but with 30 competitors, that's quite a lot of chili."

This year, the church invited professional chefs as well as 27 amateur chili-cookers to participate in the program. One of the professional chefs, Eric Rappaport, (his column “” runs in several Patches), was excited and flattered to participate in the program.

“I never shy away from an opportunity to cook for the public,” said Rappaport, who will try to wow the audience Sunday with his “Wanton White Chili.”

“I get to display my passion for the craft and what I love to do,” he said.

But this event isn’t just about judging chili. The chefs will “sell” their chili to the audience so they can judge who goes home with the chili crown. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity, which is  the real reason for the cook-off, McCreight said.

Rappaport  agreed. “Bringing the community together to help deserving families is what it’s all about,” he said.

McCreight said the competition is a "free will" event, which means the public pays what they want. Votes cost a penny each. 

"We find that free will events bring in more than pay events," he said.

 The chili cook-off is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Asbury United Methodist in South Whitehall. The event is open to the public.