Above: Gulf Coast Chili Cookoff Awards 2015

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Gulf Coast Chili Cook-Off, set for March 4 from Noon-3 p.m., will be a preferred qualifier for the World Food Championships. The event will take place at the Hospitality Resort Management Center at the Jefferson Davis Campus.

Along with the Gold Ticket invitation to the WFC, which will be held Nov. 8-14 in Orange Beach, Alabama, the winner of the Gulf Coast Chili Cookoff will have his or her $300 registration fee for the WFC event paid for and will receive $1,000 when he or she arrives at the WFC event to help cover the cost of travel, ingredients or other needs related to the competition. The WFC winner takes home a grand prize of $100,000.

At the WFC, more than 400 pre-qualified competitors will enter one of nine competition categories beginning Nov. 8, and the champion of the Gulf Coast Chili Cookoff will be among them. This is the first time the Gulf Coast Chili Cookoff will send a winner to compete against the World Food Championships roster of Golden Ticket contestants.

“This is exciting news for competitors at our event because it gives them the opportunity to compete against the best of the best,” said Lisa Bradley, director of Business Development and MGCCC’s HRM. “Competition will be fierce at our event, and of course, later at the WFC, where there are more than $350,000 in prizes.

“We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy a day of great chili tasting,” Bradley said.  “The food will be great, and there will be plenty of entertainment as well.”

Tickets for admission to the event are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Cooking-team admission is $50.

For more information about Gulf Coast Chili Cookoff contact Lisa Bradley at  lisa.bradley@mgccc.edu or (228) 897-3971.