Bowl of chili (Photo courtesy of Canva)

10+ Local Restaurants to Compete at The Cork’s Chili Cookoff


October 12, 2023
By Matt Sterner

From noon – 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, the annual and friendly chili cookoff returns to The Cork Tucson (formerly Jonathan’s Cork) at 6320 E. Tanque Verde Rd.

This annual creative culinary competition pits 12 Tucson restaurants against each other to raise money to send local kids to area sports camps. Perhaps the best part about the competition is that there are no rules as to what type of chili they create.

The winner of the chili cookoff is determined by whichever restaurant collects the highest amount of cash tips in their jar! So, bring an appetite, walk around to each chili station, and drop dollars off at your favorite restaurants.

Flamin’ mushrooms at The Cork (Photo by Taylor Noel Photography)

Tickets are $10 at the door and raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Plus, all of the proceeds benefit Send a Kid To Camp through the Arizona Daily Star Sportsmen’s Fund.

Participating Restaurants

  • Dante’s Fire
  • Eclectic Cafe
  • Flora’s Market Run
  • Brushfire BBQ
  • Noble Hops
  • Fini’s Landing
  • FireTruck Brewing
  • Saddle Horn Saloon
  • Casino Del Sol
  • The Cork Tucson
  • The Barnyard
  • Canyon’s Crown

If you’re feeling lucky, pick up a few raffle tickets because they’ll be raffling off prizes like a 75-inch TV, a retreat to Wild Horse Ranch, and gift cards to local restaurants and small businesses. And this year, the new owners of The Cork will have a one-of-a-kind auction — of a bright yellow collector’s item. The “Jonathan’s Cork” sign that sat on the side of Tanque Verde Road for more than two decades could be yours.

The annual chili cookoff event started in 2004 and has been bringing together hundreds of hungry Tucsonans each year to raise thousands of dollars for local kids.

The Cork is located at 6350 E. Tanque Verde Rd.  For reservations call (520) 296-1631 and visit corktucson.com for more information.

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