As November approaches, chili cooks begin their annual pilgrimage to the Big Bend area of west Texas for the Terlingua International Chili Championship, always held on the first Saturday in November. They come from throughout the United States and beyond for this, the largest and most prestigious chili cookoff in the world.

About ten thousand cooks compete each year in chili cookoffs sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) in an effort to qualify to cook in Terlingua. This year, the championship was held on Saturday, November 1, and 320 qualified cooks competed for the top prize.

Johnson City’s own Susan Dean was declared the winner after nearly four hours of judging and is now considered world champion. Dean began competing in Terlingua in 1998 and has previously placed fourth and seventh at TICC.

CASI, is an all-volunteer organization whose slogan is “Chili, Charity, and Fun”. They raise over one million dollars each year for local charities. The Texas Men’s State Chili Championship, held at the Blanco County Fairgrounds on the last Saturday in March, annually produces thousands of dollars that are contributed to Johnson City charities.

On behalf of the Texas Men’s Championship and the local CASI chapter, Pod On The Pedernales, Dean will be dishing up her world championship chili this Saturday for Library Moving Day. Come on out and say hello.

Photo credit: Sharon Pinnell