It was a beautiful day in Rio Grande City as cooking teams from around the Rio Grande Valley gathered on Britton Avenue in Historic Downtown for the 11th Annual Chili Showdown on Saturday, February 2, 2019. A total of twenty-nine teams competed for Rio Grande City’s Chili Showdown honors.
The crowd enjoyed live music from Tejano Knights, Sergio and Roping the Wind, Mario Bros., Frutty Villarreal y Los Mavericks, Lucky Joe and Grupo Pegasso. Children enjoyed free kiddie rides while couples danced the night away.
Furloughed federal employees were served a delicious bbq courtesy of the City of Rio Grande City, sponsors and cook-off contestants. The city organized the special meal to support federal employees who were furloughed or worked without pay from the recent shutdown.
The Rio Grande City EDC is very grateful to the many sponsors, vendors and volunteers, including Law Offices of Calixtro Villarreal, Sabas Quiroz, Jose “Pepe” Garza, Lone Star National Bank, Bud Light and L&F Distributors, BBVA Compass Bank, Citizens State Bank, Car Care 1, J. Gonzalez Law Firm, JJ’s Construction, Rio Delta Engineering, MNO Heating and Cooling, Star Sani Services, La Patrona 107.5, Subway, Starr County Town Crier, Medina Electric Co-op, RE Supplies, HEB Plus!, Chili’s Bar & Restaurant and Peter Piper Pizza, who made this event possible.
Winners from the Chili Showdown were for the following categories:
Pan de Campo: 1st – Iron Horse Cooking Team - Edinburg 2nd – Los Peanuts – Rio Grande City 3rd - What the Fork? - Rio Grande City
Fajitas: 1st - Iron Horse Cooking Team- Edinburg 2nd – Budweiser Lizards - McAllen 3rd – Los Peanuts - Rio Grande City
Beans: 1st – Lone Star Team – Rio Grande City 2nd – Red Hot Chili Peppers - Rio Grande City 3rd - Regulators – Rio Grande City
$1,350 Chili Jackpot: HEB Plus! Marquez Ranch – Rio Grande City