Judges & Awards

Results from 2024 Cookoff:

  • 1st Place: Aishel House (Holy Chili Peppers)
  • 2nd Place: Aishel House (Holy Chili Peppers)
  • 3rd Place: RMBA Chili Cook-off Stars / Beren Academy
  • Showmanship and Spirit Award: Congregation Beth Rambam 
  • Joshua Berry People’s Choice Award: Chabad Uptown/ YJP

Results from 2023 Cookoff:

  • 1st Place: Aishel House (Holy Chili Peppers)
  • 2nd Place: Chabad of Sugar Land (Noshin Neshamos)
  • 3rd Place: Basi Legani
  • Showmanship and Spirit Award: TeDan Surgical Innovations (Phantom Chili Peppers)
  • Joshua Berry People’s Choice Award: Cross Country Mortgage

Results from 2020 Cookoff:

  • 1st Place: Basi Legani
  • 2nd Place: Texas Hummus
  • 3rd Place: HEB
  • Showmanship and Spirit Award: Beth Yeshurun Synagogue
  • Joshua Berry Peoples Choice Award: Beth Yeshurun Synagogue

Results from 2019 Cookoff:

  • 1st Place: BJC – Bellaire Jewish Center
  • 2nd Place: Aishel House (Holy Chili Peppers) (Pot #1)
  • 3rd Place: Aishel House (Holy Chili Peppers) (Pot #2)
  • Showmanship and Spirit Award: TeDan Surgical (Chili) Innovations
  • Joshua Berry Peoples Choice Award: Beth Yeshurun Synagogue

2018 Cookoff canceled due to Hurricane Harvey

Results from 2017 Cookoff:

  • 1st Place: Aishel House (Holy Chili Peppers)
  • 2nd Place: Friendship Circle/Chabad Outreach/Chai Learning Center of West Houston
  • 3rd Place: Congregation Emanu El Boy Scout Troop 1190
  • Showmanship and Spirit Award: Seven Acres
  • Joshua Berry Peoples Choice Award: Greene Family Camp

Results from 2016 Cookoff:

  • 1st Place: Chabad of Uptown
  • 2nd Place: 6 Meat Under (Houston Jewish Funerals)
  • 3rd Place: Congregation Emanu El Brotherhood
  • Showmanship and Spirit Award: Chabad of Sugar Land
  • Joshua Berry Peoples Choice Award: Levy Funeral Directors

Results from 2015 Cookoff:

  • 1st Place: United Orthodox Synagogues
  • 2nd Place: Congregation Or Ami
  • 3rd Place: Chabad of Sugar Land
  • Showmanship and Spirit Award: Aishel House
  • Joshua Berry Peoples Choice Award: Congregation Beth Yeshuran

Results from 2014 Cookoff:

  • 1st Place: Aishel House
  • 2nd Place: Texas Hummus
  • 3rd Place: Young Israel
  • Best Homestyle: Aishel House
  • Showmanship and Spirit Award: Team WKPZ (The law firm Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski, Zuber)
  • Joshua Berry Peoples Choice Award: Chabad of Sugar Land

Thank You to Our Past Judges:

  • Craig Ackerman – Voice of the Houston Rockets
  • Kathy Ballanfant – Southwest Village News
  • Ben Ballanfant – Southwest Village News
  • Lara Bell from Absolutely! Magazines
  • James Brock from PaperCity
  • Commissioner Jack Cagle – Has served as county commissioner for Harris County Precinct 4 since October 3, 2011.
  • Council Member Ellen Cohen – Houston City Council District C
  • Phaedra Cook – Houston Press
  • Amber Elliott – The Houston Chronicle
  • Al Farb from The New 93Q Country
  • Tom Flynn from HTexas Magazine
  • Michael Garfield – The High Tech Texan. Radio Personality and Celebrity Spokesperson.
  • Representative Larry Green – Elected into office January 2012, Council Member Larry V. Green is the Council Member to the newly formed District known as “K”
  • Lanny Griffith – Journalist and Radio Personality
  • Amy Gross from Mom’s Toolbox
  • Kim Kroth of Edible Houston Magazine; radio and television personality
  • Alan Lipman – Executive Director ERJCC
  • Ernie Manouse – American television host, radio personality, writer and producer. Currently hosts the interview show InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse, produced by Houston PBS
  • Sir McMillen – Publisher of Chile Pepper Magazine
  • Greg Morago – Food Editor of The Houston Chronicle
  • Ruchi Mukerjee – Lights Camera Action
  • Ted Powers – Food Editor Jewish Herald Voice
  • JP Pritchard – an award-winning radio journalist and anchor who has served Houston audiences for the past 33 years on News 92 Fm Houston
  • Eric Sandler – CultureMap Food Writer and former Editor Eater Houston
  • Chef Ellen (Schwartz) – Private chef and culinary instructor
  • Adam Stiles from Absolutely! Katy Magazine
  • Cleverley Stone – The Diva of Dining, and host of The Cleverley Show on CBS Sports Radio 650; Fox 26 TV and founder/organizer of Houston Restaurant Weeks which has raised more than $2.9 million dollars for the Houston Food Bank.
  • Laurette Veres – HTexas Magazine
  • Steven Weber of Fireforks.com
  • Russell Weil – Buzz Magazines
  • Katherine Whaley – ABC13
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