Eastaboga, AL – The Rainbow Omega Chili Cookoff took place today at Rainbow Omega, offering a day filled with flavorful competition and community spirit. Participants showcased some of the best chili recipes from the region, vying for the top spot and the chance to move on to the prestigious Smoke Eaters Chili Challenge.
Attendees had the opportunity to taste and vote for their favorite chili entries. The Tim Hodge, CEO of Rainbow Omega, shared his excitement: “One of my responsibilities and duties as CEO is to taste test the chili. So, everybody’s getting an opportunity to test it today and to vote. It was delicious and had a sweet texture to it. B is my personal vote because it had more of a smoky taste and more of a traditional chili taste, so I personally would vote for B. I don’t know who everybody else is going with, but either way, I think we got a great opportunity to expose Rainbow Omega to folks this weekend and also hopefully win the chili cook-off.”
An event participant Brittany added, “I believe the hot and spicy one will win because that was the one that I loved the most. It had a good kick to it.” When asked about the competition on Saturday, they expressed, “We greatly respect the police and law enforcement and the service they provide. We love the firemen and appreciate them, but we’re in it to win it. So we hope we finish first. Who’s going to come in after us? I’m going to say the firefighters.”
Mike, director of special events and food services, shared his thoughts about his chili and the competition: “I think the competition’s going to be really hot, and there’s going to be a winner, and it’s going to be Rainbow Omega. The reason it’s going to be is because we have the best chili.” He also mentioned his ideal pairing for the chili: “I am going to pair mini cornbread muffins that have jalapenos in them and several varieties of cheese.”
The Rainbow Omega Chili Cookoff was not just about competition; it was a celebration of community, flavor, and the spirit of friendly rivalry. With the votes tallied and a winner declared, the victorious team will now travel to the Kress in Anniston to compete on Saturday at the Smoke Eaters Chili Challenge. This event, organized by the Calhoun County Blue Line Foundation, will serve as a fundraiser for the Weaver Fire Department.
Video by Shasta Jones
