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.
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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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.
