Chili Empress

I became the Chili Empress in 1997 with the first Great Petaluma Chili Cookoff, Salsa and Beer Tasting.  People actually started calling me the Chili Queen, but you know, I really felt more like The Chili Empress, so I self proclaimed as such.  Every April when I have to convene with the Weather Goddess to make the sun shines down on our event and she holds back the rains, I feel they’ll listen closer if it comes from the Empress.

We’re now heading toward our 12th Annual event and each year it gets a bit more crazy and more successful.  It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Youth Program at Cinnabar Theater and the money goes towards scholarships, help for the teachers, directors, costumers, tech designers and others who make the kids program the best in the Northbay.  My own kids went through the program and now are out in the world using the skills they learned at Cinnabar everyday in their jobs as adults.  So I feel very dedicated and thankful to Cinnabar for the confidence they have given my kids to go out and tackle the world.

What I love about the Chili Cookoff is the lighthearted sense of extreme wackiness and good spirits that the challengers and the guests share.  They come in team costumes, decorate their booths, make outstanding chili and salsa, and do it all with exhuberance and joy.  Some go home with hand made art trophies and some just go home smiling with aching feet….but they all have had a great time and yell “See Y’all Next Year!”.  And our guests do the same, altho they don’t get a trophy for it.

It’s a well loved Petaluma experience and I’m proud to be The Chili Empress.