In conjunction with the annual “Woodstock for Chileheads”, a hot sauce contest is being added to the events planned for Open Fields. The cost is only $10 per person and that one fee allows you to enter as many sauces as you’d like (within reason, please). Listed categories are Best ‘Hot’ Sauce, Best ‘Sweet Hot’, Best ‘Mild’ Sauce, Best ‘Fresh from the Field’, Open Category (anything goes, any heat level) and Best Salsa. Prizes are yet to be determined but trophies will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd in each category. Judging will be done on site & winners announced that evening (September 29th).
The Best Fresh from the Field category is unique among any other hot sauce contest as these will be sauces that are made and prepared on site with chiles picked fresh from the ones available on site. You are allowed to bring your own extra ingredients (onions, garlic, etc) to the contest, but the sauce must be based on the chiles you find in the fields. Think “Iron Chef” minus the high tech kitchen and utensils and adding a rustic setting, weather, lots of fellow chileheads, and a good cause.
The contest is the brainchild of “Scotch Bonnet Steve” from the MSN Rogues group. If you plan on entering, please send him a note (sfoster4 at
gmail.com) so that he can add your name to the poster. He is one of the most knowledgeable growers in the country and is taking part in some real cutting edge research involving chile peppers. The contest is limited to ameteur hot sauce makers at this time, with the hopes that the “pros” who attend assist with the judging.
Contest entries should be mailed to Jim Campbell, 81 Martin Pl, Franklin IN 46131. The check for the entry fee needs be made out to: The Stair Climb Fund.