The Belvidere Chamber of Commerce Chili Cook-off is a yearly competition held between the members of the Belvidere Chamber to determine who has the best Chili in town. The winner takes bragging rights for the rest of the year and everyone else gets a reason to come back and unseat the reigning champion. This competition has two categories, best chili and best theme. The cook-off is a family event meant to bring the community together for an afternoon of fun and chili tasting.

Sustainable Staffing started participating in the event in 2017 after we opened the doors of our Belvidere Office. We participated again in 2018, 2019 and this year, 2022. We’ve come in as one of the top three chilis every year.

As is common around the country, the fire department nearly always wins the best chili contest. If not them, then probably the police department. Not this year though. Not in this competition.  

This year, we took home the best chili award. Our green chicken chili edged out some really tough competition from both public safety departments. Our green chili was coupled with our theme of a CDC vaccination station. We were also serving jello shots in syringes and ice cold Corona beer. The winner of the theme competition was a tie for 1st between Hamblock Ford Lincoln as the 1980’s Heavy Metal band KISS and the City of Belvidere with their Wild West theme.

We are looking forward to next year’s cook-off where we intend to defend our title of Chili Champion!