From 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 28, 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 nine 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. So, bring an appetite, walk around to each chili station, and drop dollars off at your favorite restaurants.
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.
The chili cook-off has raised more than $288,500 since 2004.
Participating Restaurants
- The Cork
- Canyon’s Crown
- Dante’s Fire
- Eclectic Cafe
- Fini’s Landing
- Noble Hops
- Renee’s Tucson
- Happy Rooster
- Tesoro Latin Kitchen
Since 1947, the Sportsmen’s Fund has helped pay for 44,512 children to go to camp. They are one of the oldest 501(c )(3) charities in Arizona and one of the most efficient, with 97 cents from every dollar going to send kids to camp.
The Sportmen’s Fun sends local kids to weeklong YMCA, Boy Scout, and Girl Scout overnight camps, as well as overnight camping at Camp Tatiyee for school-age children with special needs.
The Cork is located at 6350 E. Tanque Verde Rd. For more information, visit corktucson.com.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
