Derby Chili Challenge to spice things up |

From Kentucky Derby Festival Press Office

With the dog days of summer winding down, it’s time to start thinking about whipping up a batch of homemade chili to welcome the fall season. For those chili lovers who are serious about their personal recipes, the new Derby Chili Challenge offers an opportunity for the public to enter a competition to determine who can make the tastiest chili in town. The Derby Chili Challenge, which is being coordinated by the Kentucky Derby Festival, the Kentucky Beef Council and Kroger, will accept chili recipe submissions from Sept. 4 through Sept. 16 at the Derby Festival’s website – www.kdf.org.

“Chili is a time-tested favorite in American households from coast to coast,” said Chuck Crutcher, Kentucky Beef Council Chair and Hardin County beef farmer. “Ingredients can include beans or no beans, savory ground beef or flavorful chunks of chuck, fiery hot spices or the light touch of cocoa power – the possibilities and flavor combinations are truly endless. I can’t wait to see what delicious beef chili recipe rises to the top.”

Finalists for the Derby Chili Challenge will be announced on Sept. 17.  They will then be invited to a Chili Cook Off on Sept. 19 at the Middletown Kroger store, at 12501 Shelbyville Road, to determine the overall winner. Four judges including KDF President and CEO, Mike Berry; Thunder Over Louisville Producer, Wayne Hettinger; as well as representatives from Kroger and the Kentucky Beef Council will pick the winning chili. 

The chili champion will have their original recipe featured in 60 Kroger stores in both Louisville and Lexington during the month of October, which is National Chili Month.  They will also receive a Kroger gift card, Kentucky Beef Council Prize Pack and four VIP tickets to both Thunder Over Louisville and Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront in 2013. The winning chili will also be served as part of the Thunder Over Louisville Command Center crew’s traditional “Gas Up for Thunder” lunch on the day before the Thunder show.

Said David Nett, Kroger Customer Communications Manager, “If you live in Kentucky or Southern Indiana, you know there is nothing bigger than the Kentucky Derby Festival. Everyone enjoys a great bowl of chili, any time of year, so it just makes sense to put the two together. What better way to ask the entire community to get involved and enter their favorite recipe in the Derby Chili Challenge. Everybody has a favorite, so let’s share!”

The Derby Chili Challenge also has a category for members of the media to compete and submit their best chili recipes. The winner of the media division will receive $500 from the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation to go to the charity of their choice.