We’ll definitely be in attendance for this show, as judges for the professional chili cookoff and as contestants in the amateur chili cookoff. We’ll bring our spicy foods domination to the chili world and see if the general public will appreciate our homemade chili goodness.

5th ANNUAL FIERY FOODS FESTIVAL AT THE NORTH MARKET

Columbus, Ohio— Are you feeling hot, hot, HOT?! Probably not as it is winter and all that…but you can, can, CAN raise your temperature at the North Market’s 5th annual Fiery Foods Festival on Saturday, February 16. We’re bringing the heat with every manner of spicy food available from our vendors around the Market.

Want to bring a little heat of your own? Customers can prove their chili cooking acumen in our Customer Chili Cook-off. The competition will garner the first place winner $100 and the runner up $50 in North Market gift certificates. In its third year the Chef Chili Challenge pits local chefs against one another as contenders for the title “North Market Chili Champ 2007,” a special trophy and $200 in North Market gift certificates. Participating chefs include representatives of Alana’s Food + Wine, Basi Italia, Barcelona, Café Corner, and L’Antibes. We are sure to have many more chef entrants by competition time! Entrants to both cooking contests must include at least three ingredients obtained from the North Market (as verified by receipts).

“It’s always a hot time at the North Market, but especially so during our Fiery Foods Festival. The theme is interpreted widely by our merchants who translate it in ways from zippy and authentic ethnic foods to spicy chocolates, cheeses and bakery goods.” said David Wible, Executive Director of the North Market.

Fiery Foods Festival Schedule:

* 8 a.m. North Market opens, Urban Chefs and Sauce Cartel are special vendors today only
* 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Cooking demonstrations in the Dispatch Kitchen (dubbed CaJohns Kitchen for the day) by John Hard of CaJohns Flavor & Fire
* 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., musical entertainment by the Gadabouts
* 11 a.m. Free maracas, sombreros, balloons and chili-pepper shaped cookies for the kids (while supplies last)
* 11 a.m. Professional Chili Cook-off judging of local chefs
* 12 p.m. Amateur Chili Cook-off
* 1 – 4 p.m., Caribbean music by the Island Breeze Duo.
* Hot and spicy foods featured throughout the North Market all day
* 2-4 p.m., Spicy Cooking for Singles class sponsored by Columbus Alive

The North Market Fiery Foods Festival on Saturday, February 16 is a free event. Festival activities will take place from 10a.m.-3p.m. Market hours are 8a.m. – 5 p.m. To participate in the Customer Chili Cook-off or the Chef Chili Challenge and for more information, please call (614) 463-9664 or visit www.northmarket.com. A tasting fee of $5 enables onlookers to sample all of the chilis by both professional chefs and amateur contestants while supplies last.