CLEVELAND’S CHILI COOK-OFF team from the Cleveland Fire Department includes engineer Mitch Akins, firefighter Robert Cannatella, Lt. Pete VanDusen, firefighter Josh Mowery, firefighter Luke Landers and engineer T.J. Smith. Photograph courtesy of Brittany Mowery.
The popular cook-off has joined with Go!Fest at the Chattanooga Zoo, located at 301 N. Holtzclaw.
Admission to the zoo is free during Go!Fest and the chili cook-off.
Cleveland’s team is called Louie’s Red Shirt Mafia and team captain Josh Mowery plans to win back the trophy they won two years ago.
“We won the Chef’s Choice award two years ago, fair and square,” said Mowery.
“The chef judges who were used last year apparently felt sorry for the Chili Chiefs, so that’s why they won,” he quipped. “We’ll take it back this year because we have the best chili, hands down.”
In addition to Cleveland’s team, this year’s chili cook-off will feature three other firefighter teams, including the Chattanooga Fire Department’s Chili Chiefs, which won the Chef’s Choice award last year.
The Chattanooga Fire Department’s Station 1 team “No Hesitation” is returning once again to defend its People’s Choice trophy with its “High Rise” chili.
“We’ve won this thing five years in a row,” bragged Capt. David Thompson Jr., also the team captain. “I do have one positive thing to say about our competition: They’ve got a lot of guts to go up against us.”
The fourth team is made up of a group of athletic firefighters who also know how to make chili. The “CFD Combat Challenge” team hopes to smash the competition with its “Iron Man Chili.” These are some of the same guys who strutted their stuff in the recent She Expo fashion show.
“We’re very excited about our new location for the cook-off,” says Fire Chief Randy Parker.
“If you haven’t been to the Chattanooga Zoo in a while, you’re in for a real treat. It’s a beautiful facility with lots of exotic animals. And Go!Fest is a very popular festival that focuses on making Chattanooga more accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability.”
Go!Fest features demonstrations in adaptive athletics, including wheelchair basketball and cycling, a large “touch-a-truck” exhibit, booths showcasing educational and health resources for people of all abilities, and music and interactive entertainment.
There will also be some special music from Barefoot Nellie and Company.
If you want to sample the chili and cast your vote for your favorite firehouse chili, it’s $7.50 for the first ticket, and $5 for additional tickets.
All proceeds go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
