Chili Fest expected to heat up taste buds on Tuesday

The ninth annual Chancellor’s Chili Fest will be held Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the International Ballroom at Walb Student Union. Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer has hosted the event since coming to Purdue University Fort Wayne in 2017, inviting students, faculty, and staff to enjoy chili, cornbread, and bluegrass music.

Fresh Ideas will be preparing approximately 30 gallons each of three submitted recipes – “Athletics Chili,” “The Best Vegetarian Chili in the World,” and “Hot Dam Chili.” 

“Typically, large batches of chili need to simmer 4 to 6 hours for proper heat distribution and for the players to marry,” said Todd McCrory, director of dining services for Fresh Ideas Food at Purdue Fort Wayne. “Production of these is definitely a three-day event for our cooks prepping the proteins and veggies, building and simmering, and then serving.”

There will also be 200 pounds of cornbread served.

Past Chili Fest ingredients have included 120 pounds of hamburger, 10 pounds of beef tips, 40 pounds of chicken, 50 pounds of onions, 50 pounds of bell peppers, 20 pounds of jalapenos, and 10 pounds of assorted other peppers.

Elsenbaumer has his own special ingredient, saying a couple of years ago, “One of the recipes I really like has a little bit of mustard in it, and that gives it a little bit of tang—an unusual tang other than just spice. I like mine a little spicy, but not overly, though. A little bit of Tabasco sauce goes a long way.”

The chancellor has been known to dish out a ladle or two at the event and also make the rounds to every table, welcoming attendees and asking how everything tastes. Traditionally, the event draws more than 700 students, staff, and faculty for lunch.

There will also be an opportunity this year to contribute items for PFW’s FRIENDS of the University Pantry, which is a beneficiary of donations to the annual U Can Crush Hunger competition among eight area colleges and universities.