General Rules

NO GUNS, WEAPONS, OR AMMO OF ANY KIND. All cars that come onsite at JSC are subject to search by JSC Security Officers. All violators WILL BE REMOVED from JSC premises.

NO PETS (except service animals with valid service vest).

TEAM CAPTAINS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDUCT OF THEIR TEAM MEMBERS! Fighting, loud vulgar language, extreme intoxication or reckless conduct by a team member or a guest associated with a team will result in that person being subject to removal from the JSC grounds, and possible sanctions against the team up to disqualification and denial of future Chili Cook-Off participation. Violators may also be subject to criminal charges.

EACH TEAM MUST HAVE A WORKING FIRE EXTINGUISHER. No sharing fire extinguishers between teams. Extinguishers must be inspected before the team begins cooking.

Trash from your site must be bagged in strong trash bags. All bagged trash MUST be placed in the dumpsters located by the Gilruth Center or taken with you as you leave. The NASA dumpsters are for BAGGED TRASH ONLY, AND NOT TO BE USED FOR NON-BAGGED ITEMS!! This includes pallets, lumber, booth parts, etc. Any TRASH or NON-BIO DEGRADABLE MATERIAL LEFT IN A TEAM’S SITE will result in your team being denied the ability to participate in the Cook Off the following year. This includes hay, wood, pallets, lumber, decorations, fences, tents, broken chairs, couches, etc. YOU BROUGHT IT IN, YOU TAKE IT HOME.

Registration

Team Registration opens and closes during the dates listed at registration, no exceptions!

Registration fee includes one 12×12 ft cooking area and one chili entry. Payment is due at time of registration. If more space is needed, an additional registration fee will be necessary.

Additional chili entries must have a different team name and
must be prepared by a different cook, using a different recipe. Entries require minimum 20lbs of meat EACH.

Multiple teams may share a single site, but they must enter each chili team individually, and indicate on their registration form that they are wishing to share a site with another team. Separate entry fees are still required.

Enter desired site numbers on the team registration with first, second, and third choices. If purchasing multiple sites, make sure to enter choices for each. Sites are first come, first serve. Previous year’s location is not guaranteed.

Make sure to provide a good non-NASA email address as that is the primary means of communication before the event. Email address must not be used for multiple teams.

Showmanship

If teams want to participate in the Showmanship competition, this must be marked on registration.

Showmanship judging is based solely on team participation and storefront appearance on the day of the Cookoff.

Judging will take place between 12-2p the day of the Cookoff. Judges will be in marked shirts and will go around to appropriate sites for judging.

Teams may do anything within reason to impress the judges. Songs, short performances, bling, handouts, etc. No vulgar or adult-themed displays. Alcohol may be used.

Trophies are given to the top 3 showmanship teams.

Chili Rules

Each team must have minimum 20lbs meat per chili.

Meat and fire extinguishers must be inspected before cooking begins. Chili is to be made on site, ABSOLUTELY NO PRECOOKING YOUR CHILI (including public tasting chili).

Judging Criteria is on LOOK, SMELL, and TASTE.

FILLERS: No beans, macaroni, rice, hominy, or similar items will be acceptable.

FOREIGN OBJECTS: foreign objects are items not indigenous to competition chili. There are many interpretations of what chili should be. Most would-be “foreign” objects merely are items that affect appearance and should be considered under the color and consistency criteria. Ex: Small pieces mixed throughout a chili may not seriously mar appearance; however, large chunks of onion, large pepper pieces or whole peppers, large chunks of tomato or bell pepper, garlic pods or big pieces of garlic, many pepper or tomato seeds, herb leaves and stems, etc., all may detract from appearance. Things like olives, carrot chunks, large celery stems, bay leaves, mushrooms, and potatoes have also been known to disturb chili judges decorum.

Chili should be available for public tasting no later than noon. Your team must provide at least 4 gallons of chili for public tasting! Public tasting chili may be cooked separately from your turn-in chili, but both must be cooked from the same recipe.

Competition turn-in cups will be available underneath the Pavilion at the judging area between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM. It is the team’s responsibility to send a representative to pick up their cup.

Competition chili turn in time is 2:00 PM at the latest. CHILI TURNED IN AFTER 2:00 PM WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.