The 6th Annual Houston Kosher Chili Cookoff held its most successful event to date, raising a record breaking amount for its charities on Sunday, February 28, 2016. More than 30 local organizations and businesses felt the competition heat up at the 6th Annual Houston Kosher Chili Cookoff with their unique kosher chili recipes to benefit seven local Jewish Day Schools and the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center's Meals on Wheels Program. The Cookoff gathered the Houston Jewish community on a beautiful, sunny day to enjoy live music, a moonwalk, an obstacle course, balloon artists and face painting all while sampling some of Houston's best kosher chili.

Attendees also spiced up the event with bids on silent auction items and raffles during the sets of several local live entertainment acts. The event began with The Danny Gavin Band, followed by the Lanier Middle School Klezmer Band. Special guest Little Jewford then took the stage to provide a preview for Galveston's upcoming concert "An Evening with Kinky Friedman". The Cookoff ended with live music by the Joe Buchanan Band before celebrity and media food judges announced winners from the 36 sampled kosher chili recipe entries received throughout the Cookoff.

The coveted best chili and first place award was presented to the Chabad of Uptown team.

Following up closely behind, the 6 Meat Under (Houston Jewish Funerals) team received second place and the Congregation Emanu El Brotherhood team finished third. The Chabad of Sugar Land team won the Showmanship Award and the Levy Funeral Directors received the People's Choice Award. All winning teams were presented with trophies.

Celebrity and media judges included Adam Stiles from Absolutely! Katy Magazine; Al Farb from The New 93Q Country; Amber Elliott from the Houston Chronicle; Amy Gross from Mom's Toolbox; Ben Ballanfant from Southwest Village News; Cleverley Stone from Fox 26 Houston and CBS Radio Houston; Council Member Ellen Cohen Houston City Council District C; Ernie Manouse of PBS; James Brock from PaperCity; Kim Kroth of Edible Houston Magazine; radio and television personality Lanny Griffith; Lara Bell from Absolutely! Magazines; Houston City Council Member Larry Green (District K); Michael Garfield from 950 AM and The High Tech Texan; Ruchi Mukerjee of Lights, Camera, Action; Sir McMillen from The Chile Pepper Magazine; Steven Weber of Fireforks.com; Ted Powers from The Jewish Herald Voice; and Tom Flynn from HTexas Magazine.

This event was made possible with the support of Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center and its staff alongside sponsors Mostyn Law Firm, Kenny & Ziggy's, Proguard, TEI - Traffic Engineers, Inc., Copy.com, Don Levit Family, HKA (Houston Kashrus Association), Interra Capital Group/Dunhill, JGR Computer Services, Judge Alix Smoots-Hogan, Julie Countiss for Judge, Lisa Ketai for Judge, Nationwide Insurance and St. Arnold's Brewery.

About The Houston Kosher Chili Cookoff:

The Kosher Chili Cookoff is the largest kosher food event in Houston and takes place on a Sunday in late February or early March, unless there is a conflict with Purim, at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center (ERJCC) from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. The Kosher Chili Cookoff's mission is to bring the Jewish Community together for a day of food, fun and festivities to raise funds for important non-profit organizations in the Houston Jewish Community. The 2017 event is Sunday, February 26th.

Proceeds from the 2016 event benefitted seven local Jewish Day Schools and the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center's Meals on Wheels. For more information please visit www.houstonkosherchilicookoff.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.