Chilifest!

Leave it to this town (fine, city) to convert a chili-hater into a chili-lover in just one afternoon - $5 - 5 tastes of chili...and then oh yes, a chili chocolate...$1 more I guess.

This was my first Chilifest experience, and it was fantastic.  Such a fun atmosphere and delicious small bites!  The lines were terribly long, but they moved quickly as chili is quickly served.  In fact, the long lines and chili samples were a match made in heaven.  Here's how it goes: first you must stand in a long line to exchange your cash for tickets; this is not the fun part, but it's well worth the wait.  Tickets finally in hand, you get in line for your first sample of chili.  Finally at the front of the line, you take a much anticipated bite - yumm!  With your chili sample still cupped gingerly in your hands, warming you, you start perusing the surrounding booths or consulting your chili map to see where your favorite vendors are located.  As you walk in the frigid air and wind, you snack happily on your chili as the hot, spiciness warms you from the inside out.  When you find your next desired booth, you stand in the long line, enjoying the last few bites of your preceding chili sample.  After you are done with that sample and ready for the next, you are just a minute away from the front of the line, just enough time to savor and ponder the chili you just ate.  You get your next sample and repeat until all your tickets are gone.  At that point you make a sad face, but you quickly recover as you spot the chili chocolate stand!  You get right back in line at the ticket booth and beg them to sell you just one ticket more (they are normally sold in sets of 5).  Having convinced them, you grab your extra ticket and run over to the chocolate!  Yumm, it was oh. so. worth. it.

Sadly I must wait a full year before I can experience it again.

My first stop straight ahead!

GreenStar's Grilled Yardbird (Chicken) and White Bean Chili

The Mate Factor's Grass Fed Local Beef Tribal Chili

Stella's Spicy Sirloin and Stout Chili

Crooked Carrot's Crooked Con Carne (local beef, beans, onions, peppers, carrots, and tomatoes...and a pickled carrot!)

Just a Taste's Bison and Pork Chili

Life's So Sweet Chocolate's Spicy Vindaloo Truffle

Spicy and sweet, bursting with Indian spices...such a unique treat and a great way to round off a chili lunch...although this by no means cooled down my palate!

Sometimes, you've just gotta love this place.

(Of course on my way back up the hill there was a mini freak rain then snow storm, but that's to be expected.)

Fun fact: you were given a spoon when you bought your tickets and no more after that!  So environmentally friendly :)  I even saw many cool people bring their own mugs and spoons...smart idea too because they probably got even larger samples!  However, I must say the part that made this a great experience was the small samples...I didn't get stuffed!  Just pleasantly satisfied with my chili.  Too much of a good thing can be bad; I'm glad I avoided that.