North Country Chili Cook Off Chili Crawl starts February 1
WATERTOWN- The 24th edition for the North Country Chili Cook Off is aimed to begin in February.
Organized to benefit the Volunteer Transportation Center, the traditional event returns this-year with its newer chili crawl format, which was introduced during two-years of COVID regulations.
In addition, the event will return this-year to its home-base at the Dulles State Office Building, Watertown, NY on Saturday, February 25.
The cook-off chili crawl lasts through February 22 and involves numerous North Country taverns, restaurants and other establishments.
The following restaurants have signed up to compete:
• Beese’s Depot Café, 13449 Depot Street, Adams Center
• Adams Country Club, 10700 U.S. Route 11, Adams
• The Dockside Pub, 11 Market Street, Alexandria Bay
• The Church Street Diner, 107 Church Street, Carthage
• Zero Dock Street Restaurant & Bar, 130 Canal Street, Carthage
• Whiskey Jack’s, 5454 Plumber Road, Constableville
• Red Rooster, 9861 State Route 812, Croghan
• Silver Leaf Diner, 3231 U.S. Route 11, DeKalb Junction
• Meme’s Diner, 31606 State Route 3, Felts Mills
• L.E.A’S Diner, 90 State Street, Heuvelton
• American Legion Post 162, 5383 Dayan Street, Lowville
• The Blue House, 3736 County Route 14, Madrid
• Smuggler’s Café , 54 East River Street, Ogdensburg
• Hoof & Horn Butcher and Eatery, 32 Market Street, Potsdam
• Plum Brook Café, 756 County Route 17, Russell
• The Sandwich Bar, 113 West Main Street, Sackets Harbor
• Tavern230, 4173 West Road, Turin
• Black Waters Café and Trading Post, 68 Ranger School Road, Wanakena
• Celest Jamaican Cuisine, 23746 State Route 342, Watertown
• Empire Square, 65 Public Square, Watertown
• Flavors of The Philippines, 568 Bradley Street, Watertown
• Johnny D’s, 1 Public Square, Watertown
• Panera Bread, 21872 Towne Center Drive, Watertown
• Pete’s Trattoria, 111 Breen Avenue, Watertown
• The Eatery, 65 Public Square, Watertown
• The Grille at Hilton Garden Inn, 1290 Arsenal Street, Watertown
• Two Hot Dogs, 71 Public Square, Watertown
• Jose O’Connor’s, 15 Bridge Street, West Carthage
“When we were trying to determine how we would handle the return of the in-person event, we knew we didn’t want to do away with our pub crawl format,” said Jeremiah S. Papineau, Director of Communications and Foundation Director for the VTC.
“It’s been something these local restaurants and businesses have seen help bring even more people to their establishments."
The cook-off’s pub crawl format will again involve participating restaurants and businesses making available samples of their chili entries during regular hours of operation, with the public able to vote for their favorites.
The in-person competition on Feb. 25 begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. when awards will be presented.
Each entry at the in-person event will be scored by a panel of local judges, with winners taking home plaques and cash prizes. Attendees will be able to sample chili from each participant.
Image via the North Country Chili Cook Off.
