On a cold, winter’s day, with the snow packed thick and the freezing winds ripping at the very heart of one’s soul, a nice warm bowl of chili sure sounds good.

And if that cold winter’s day – happens to be next February, then we have just the place for you to be. We have exclusive details about the first ever Schroon Lake Chili Cook Off, which will benefit one of our finest public servive branches: The Schroon Lake EMS.

The cook off is the baby of Shelby Davis, from Shelby’s Kitchen Therapy and partner of Chris Palmatier, of Mr P’s Mountain Smokehouse. The cook off satisfies a couple of “pet projects” Shelby has been wanting to do.

“I have wanted to do a chili cook off for fun, in the winter when it’s nice and cold and nothing to do, and get a bunch of restaurant people , individuals, civic organizations, churches, get everybody together and bring their chili,” Shelby told Schroon Laker.

“It was one of those things I was wondering if I could put it together? Then one of our very regular customers offered up his gymnasium at Mountainside Chapel. I looked at the space and it’s huge, we probably have space for 30 – to 35 chili cooks.

“And then I started thinking if we are doing a chili cook off, we are doing it for a good cause, so started thinking ‘chili’ and ‘fire department’ -- that goes hand in hand. So I contacted the Schroon Lake EMS and they took it to their Commissioner and they said absolutely.

There will be a contest for best chili, with two titles up for grabs. Best in Show, judged by a panel (We are happy to report that we are one of the judges) and the People’s Choice Award, voted for by those attending. There will be a nominal entrance fee to enter the contest to help cover the cost of supplies.

Chili will be $1 per taste or $15 for a wrist band to taste all of the chili in the cook-off. For more information email Shelby at info@schroonlakechilicookoff.org and check out their website at http://schroonlakechilicookoff.org/

We will be reporting on the lead up to the contest on a regular basis. What’s your favorite chili? Tell us in comments.

Schroon Lake Chili Cook Off, Mountainside Bible Chapel, Saturday, February 25, 2012, 11 – 2 pm.