Info for Chili Cooks

Dear Chili Cooks:

Well the time is almost upon us for the Maryland State Chili Championship. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for participating in this chili cook-off. Wow – what a beautiful venue we have to use for the day. We will be waterfront on the Inner Harbor. I expect a fairly large crowd and have offered a terrific People’s Choice (PC) prize — $500 and a basket of dry aged Tri-tip (15 lbs.). Please be prepared with PC. PC is required by all chili cooks whether you are cooking Verde or Traditional Red. 1 gallon is the minimum. Please bring at least 2 -4 gallons if it is not a huge inconvenience, I would greatly appreciate it. This is a 1st time State cook-off for Baltimore, so I would like to impress them with our event.

We have cooks confirmed from Texas, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland. I expect a few more cooks will sign up in the next 2 weeks. Currently we have 30 Red, 23 Verde, and 20 salsa. I do have room for more cooks. (hint; hint; recruit a friend)

Location:   1417 Thames Street Baltimore, MD 21231.
Contact info: Matt Levy   443-280-2884 or 410-785-1335.
Set up:             7:00 am – 9:00 am

Turn in:
Salsa   –           12:00 pm
Verde   –          1:00 pm
Red      –           3:00pm

Chief Judge:                 Ghon Eckley
Head Scorekeeper:     Kim Eckley

Cooks Party: Friday Evening 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm in Fells Point. (Location to be announced shortly.)

Department of Health: Please send forms to me at 1212 Maple Leaf Ct. Hunt Valley, MD 21030 (Do not send to Health Dept.)

Hotels: Admiral Fell Inn -$149 +tax +parking
888 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231
410-525-7377
This hotel is approx. 400 yards from the Cook Off and in the heart of Fells Point.

Holiday Inn BWI-$89 + tax + free parking
815 Elkridge Landing Rd. Linthicum Heights, MD 21090
410-691-1000
This hotel is approximately 12 miles from Fells Point and Inner Harbor

Grocery Stores: Whole Foods
1001 Fleet St. Baltimore, MD 21202
410-528-1640   7 am- 10 pm

Harris Teeter
3779 Boston S,t Baltimore, MD 21224
410-522-0270 6am- midnight

Safeway
2610 Boston St, Baltimore, MD 21224
410-625-1971 5am- midnight

Walmart (no grocery)
2701 Port Covington Dr., Baltimore, MD 21230
410-625-1971

Restaurants:
Woodberry Kitchen
Features seasonal foods from local growers and Chesapeake region cuisine.
A little pricey, yet the best restaurant for my dollar in Baltimore. Outstanding
410-464-8000 reservation recommended usually a few bar seats. www.woodberrykitchen.com

Peter’s Inn
A former dive bar house made to into a farm-to-table & craft cocktails amid hip cluttered décor. The menu changes daily and is written on a chalk board. No reservations accepted. It can be slow but that gives you more time to drink. Great bang for your buck  410-675-7313 www.petersinn.com

Birrotecca : Artisan pizzas, an extensive craft beer and cocktail selection, and an of-the-moment vibe attracted the first throngs to this Clipper Mill hipster haven when it opened in 2012. The buzz in Robbin Haas’s restaurant hasn’t subsided, due in part, at least, to flawless execution of the entire menu. Yes, the duck confit, fig, and onion jam pizza is perhaps the best pie in the city. But the delectable meatball appetizer, served over house-made ricotta, is equally extraordinary. Pastas and risottos are tremendous as well. Consistently, nothing disappoints. And a new Bel Air outpost doubles our happiness. Service: For a place that’s perpetually packed, we never feel forgotten. Vibe: Crowded and cavernous. Two locations, including 1520 Clipper Rd., 443-708-1934

Thames Street Oyster House: Before Thames Street Oyster House came along in 2011, there was no place to send someone for decent seafood and a reliable raw bar near the waterfront in Fells Point. Thames Street filled that niche, and went further by not pandering to notions of what a Baltimore seafood restaurant should be. The best dishes traffic in fish like hake and fluke that are better known in New England than Maryland. 443-449-7726

Koopers: Located in Fells point at 1702 Thames St. Koopers has terrific bar food, awesome burgers, entertainment, and quality bartenders. 410-563-5423

Waterfront Kitchen: Located onsite of the cco, Waterfront Kitchen is new American Food with produce grown locally and a terrific view. 443-681-5310

Things to see and do:

Neighborhoods: Federal Hill & Canton If you are just looking for a place to grab a bite, take in the sights, drink a beer or cocktail, take a cab to Federal Hill or Canton Square. There is a large assortment of restaurants, entertainment, bars, party life going on in both neighborhoods.

Please remember to cook your best pot and have a great time. Lastly, please call if you need anything. I will do my best to accommodate you.

Best wishes,
Matt “MLCHILI” Levy

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