Yacht Club wins Caybrew Chili Cook-Off

(CNS): While the team from Home Gas Ltd won the People’s Choice Award at the International Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, competing against teams from some of the top restaurants and businesses on the island, the judges picked the chili served up by the team from the George Town Yacht Club. As the winners, they will go on to represent the Cayman Islands in the Chili Finals in October of this year. Hundreds of people turned up to sample the various chilis in the return of the popular culinary event. A close second place overall winner was Craft Restaurant, who also won the Top People’s Choice Restaurant award, vowing to come back next year for the First Place trophy. (Photos courtesy of Home Gas)

As well as winning the People’s Choice Award, the Home Gas crew (below with Radio Cayman's Paulette Connolly) took home the third place trophy from the overall judging, and their Texas themed booth was a favourite of the day, with their country music and ‘5 gallon’ hats. 

ElectraTech’s Hillbilly booth took Best Booth Award with their hilarious Country slogan signs but was not so successful with their chili, picking up the “Nice Try” last place trophy for the day.

The Blue Dragon Tattoo team won a special prize from Cayman News Service, the media sponsors for the event, for Best Vegetarian Chili, being the only chili in that class. The team has won a month of free advertising on CNS and CNS Business.

Caybrew’s spokesperson, Matthew Leslie, said that overall the Cayman Islands Brewery was very impressed with the attendance and was already looking forward to next year’s event. 

“This was a real showcase and we learned a few things that we will improve on next year, as we can only make this event bigger and better over time. We really have to thank all the sponsors, who came together and made this all possible.”

The definite crowd favourite was the raffle, with prizes including Cayman Airways flights as well as numerous gas grills donated by Uncle Bill’s. 

Proceeds from the raffle tickets will be donated to Meals On Wheels, Leslie said. Funds were also raised from the Kids Zone for the West Bay Primary School PTA.

Sponsors included The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Home Gas Ltd, Cayman Airways, Uncle Bill’s, Hurley’s Marketplace, CNS Business, Cayman News Service, Radio Cayman, Premier Wines, and Red Bull. 

The Caybrew International Chili Cook Off was a sanctioned event by the World governing body of Chili the ICS.  The Cayman Islands will be eligible to host the Regional Competition in 2015.

See promo video interview for this year's event.