Dust off your aprons, chef hats and hottest spices – it’s time for a good old-fashioned chili cook-off.

The Rotary Club of White Rock Millenium is hosting the blistering battle of culinary clout, and club president Jack Boyce says it’s guaranteed to be a gas.

The fundraiser is part of the White Rock Summersault Street Fair on Sept. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and cook-off booths will be set up throughout the downtown area.

Boyce said the club has nine confirmed teams signed up for the cook-off, but they’re still hoping for a few more. Participating teams will have to prepare five gallons of chili the day before to serve to judges and the public with hopes of winning one of two prizes.

The People’s Choice Award goes to the team who receives the most votes from the public chili-tasters. The Best Judged Chili award will be selected by a panel of astute judges based on a variety of criterium.

The first will be a blind tasting where judges will rate the chili’s aroma, consistency, colour, taste and aftertaste on a scale of one to five.

Secondly, the participating team’s presentation will be judged – this includes costumes, showmanship and booth decoration – and the crazier the better.

In addition, each team will be provided an Official Bribe Envelope, as bribing the judges with money is strongly encouraged.

In the end, once the judges’ taste buds have recovered from flavour-overload, and the bribe money has been counted, judges will award a first, second and third place.

If you prefer eating chili over cooking it, then come down to the cook-off and purchase a $5 tasting kit, which includes a chili tasting card and a People’s Choice Award ballot.

Proceeds from this red-hot event will go towards the numerous projects the Rotary Club of White Rock Millenium is involved with in the community.

In honour of this first annual chili cook-off, Boyce is sharing a recipe for red hot Rotary chili – and an invitation for members of the community to come out Saturday for what’s sure to be a great event.

“We’re the most fun club on the Peninsula,” he said. For more information, or to sign up your team, call 604-538-2200.

Red hot Rotary chili

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef or veggie ground

1 large can red kidney beans

1 large can romano or pinto beans

1 large can of diced tomatoes

1 chopped medium yellow onion

1 cup diced celery

1-2 clove of garlic, minced

3 tbsp butter or oil

1 tbsp chili powder

salt to taste

Optional:

hot sauce (you pick the heat)

1 cup water, or enough for desired consistency

Instructions:

Heat butter or oil in frying pan, add onion, garlic and celery, cook for two minutes. Add ground beef or veggie ground, cook well.

Mix in chili powder, add beans and tomatoes. Add optional ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and serve with fresh buns or tortilla wedges.