Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off — It’s Baaaaaaaaaccckkkk!!!

One of Camano Island’s most popular events is just around the corner!

November 12th 2011 from 3:00pm to 7:00pm is the annual Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off.

Come out and join in the festivities, eat some amazing chili and chowder — Camano Island style — and vote for your favorite!

There will be live music, a raffle, and art auction to follow.

This is a great event, so much fun every year and I hope you can all come out for this fun event.

Camano Island Chili Chowder Cookoff Location

Come join us at the Camano Island Senior & Community Center, 606 Arrowhead Rd. If it’s sunny well that’s great; if not well then we have the warm hospitality of the Camano Center and lots of chili and chowder to keep us toasty!

To help us all prepare for the Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off next month, here’s a quick history of what we’ll be enjoying:

Chili – a History

Although it is commonly held that chili originated from Mexico, historians have confirmed that this is not the case. Mexico has deep traditions, dating back hundreds and even thousands of years. If chili came from Mexico, it would still be there! With the exception of a few places that cater to tourists, there really is no chili found in Mexico. Instead of Mexico, Spain is often credited with its creation by popular legend and story.

Chili powder, on the other hand, is a very hot topic! There are a number of people who take credit for creating chili powder, many of them from Texas. In fact, one of the main sources of this story supporting the Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off and History of Chili and Chowder says they all were!

Chowder – a History

For chowder, the Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off heats up quite well also in this “History of Chowder” article on what’scookingamerica.net. France gets the nod this time — and decidedly so — for the creation of chowder. Technically, chowder is anything cooked in a “calderia” which is latin and basically means cauldron. The original chowders were likely made of fish, vegetables, anything that could be thrown together. Sailors often ate chowder with biscuits, which have been replaced with crackers these days.

In one sense, the Camano Island Chili Chowder Cook Off celebrates our country’s early beginnings as the United States served as the ‘calderia’ for the world and people from all walks of life came together to partake of the new world’s bounty. Let’s all join together again as this fun, festive and tasty annual event serves up piping hot stews of pure yummy-ness!

See you there! — Jan Mather, Camano Island Expert – (360) 507-4133