Museum and CNM to Participate in Downtown Kalamazoo Chili Cook-Off

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum and the Center for New Media are joining in on Downtown Kalamazoo’s Chili Cook-off on January 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At the Center for New Media, turkey chili will be created by culinary instructor Chef Joel Boone and Kalamazoo Valley Community College President L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D. At the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, chocolate chili will be cooked by culinary faculty member Chef Cory Barrett and Dr. Peter Linden, Ph.D., provost and VP for instruction and student services. The recipes will be prepared, as much as possible, with ingredients grown or sourced at the college’s Food Innovation Center. Look for the festive ice sculptures outside of the museum and the Center for New Media and watch for photos of the ice carving process on social media.

Participants in this free event are encouraged to explore downtown shops and restaurants while sampling chili recipes. The Holly Jolly Chili Trolley will transport chili tasters all over downtown. Commemorative tasting spoons are also available for $5 each at starting lines, Consumers Credit Union on the mall and at the Radisson Hotel. Chili passports with a map, a chili bingo card and descriptions of the chili at each site will also be available. Chili sampling will continue while supplies last. Some sites will offer vegan and vegetarian options. Participants vote for their favorite chili and the results will be posted on Facebook and Instagram.

The Kalamazoo Chili Cook-Off is a Downtown Kalamazoo Retail and Restaurant Association event put on by a volunteer committee, dedicated to the growth and success of the downtown community.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees.