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North Country Chili Cook-Off Will Return Next Week in
Month-Long Format Due to COVID-19
Published: January 25, 2022
at 09:45 a.m.
By: Press Release from Volunteer Transportation
Center
North Country Chili Cook-Off Will Return Next Week in
Month-Long Format Due to COVID-19
WATERTOWN, NY – The Volunteer
Transportation Center, Inc. (VTC) will host the 23rd Annual North Country
Chili Cook-Off in a modified format again this year due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
As first
announced in December, the cook-off – typically held as a one-day event at
the Dulles State Office Building in Watertown on the first Saturday of
February – will instead be again held at participating restaurants in
Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties
throughout the month of February. The modified format was utilized last
year in an effort to host the event in a way that
would follow New York State mandates and adhere to CDC guidelines.
“We had great
success last year when we attempted this format for the first time,” said
Jeremiah S. Papineau, Director of Communications and Foundation Director
for the VTC. “We weren’t sure how it would go but had hoped it would be a
fun, new twist on our event that would also shine a light on local
businesses. It exceeded our expectations and we’re pleased to do it again this
year.”
The North Country
Chili Cook-Off will again focus only on the “Professional” category and be
held at participating restaurants throughout Jefferson, Lewis
and St. Lawrence Counties, said Mr. Papineau. The event will again follow a
“pub crawl” format, where those wishing to sample and vote on their
favorite entries may do so at participating restaurants.
The following
restaurants have signed up to compete during their regular hours of
operation:
•
Beese’s Depot Café, 13449 Depot Street, Adams
Center
• Bonnie Castle Resort & Marina, 31 Holland Street, Alexandria Bay
• The Dockside Pub, 11 Market Street, Alexandria Bay
• Belva’s Sahara Restaurant, 39936 State Route 3, Carthage
• The Church Street Diner, 107 Church Street, Carthage
• The Mills Country Store, 5270 County Route 14, Chase Mills
• River Bottom Bar & Grill, 419 Riverside Drive, Clayton
• Whiskey Jack’s, 5454 Plumber Road, Constableville
• The Cottage Inn, 9794 State Route 12, Copenhagen
• Silver Leaf Diner, 3231 U.S. Route 11, DeKalb Junction
• Meme’s Diner, 31606 State Route 3, Felts Mills
• L.E.A’S Diner, 90 State Street, Heuvelton
• American Legion Post 162, 5383 Dayan Street, Lowville
• Montague Inn, 6765 Sears Pond Road, Lowville
• Deep Roots Fresh Market and Café, 3950 State Route 12, Lyons Falls
• River Valley Inn, 6670 Burdicks Crossing Road,
Lyons Falls
• The Blue House, 3736 County Route 14, Madrid
• Smuggler’s Café, 54 East River Street, Ogdensburg
• Big Spoon Kitchen, 6510 State Route 56, Potsdam
• Plum Brook Café, 756 County Route 17, Russell
• The Sandwich Bar, 113 West Main Street, Sackets Harbor
• The Cottage Bakery, 24360 County Route 57, Three Mile Bay
• Tavern230, 4173 West Road, Turin
• Black Waters Café and Trading Post, 68 Ranger School Road, Wanakena
• Celest Jamaican Cuisine, 23746 State Route 342, Watertown
• Flavors of the Philippines, 568 Bradley Street, Watertown
• Empire Square, 65 Public Square, Watertown
• Flashback Brewing Company, 1309 State Street, Watertown
• Garland City Beer Works, 321 Howk Street,
Watertown
• Pete’s Trattoria, 111 Breen Avenue, Watertown
• The Grille at Hilton Garden Inn, 1290 Arsenal Street, Watertown
•
Hall Pass Tavern, 19 Bridge Street, West Carthage
“Once again, we
are overwhelmed by the number of restaurants that have signed up to
participate in this modified version of the cook-off,” said Mr. Papineau.
“Their participation really makes this event a success.”
That
participation is extremely important, he added, as the cook-off is a
fundraiser to help the VTC transport Veterans and their families. Each
year, the cook-off raises upwards of $40,000 specifically to help that
cause, said Mr. Papineau.
“The importance
of this event and the money raised through it is something that cannot be
underscored enough,” he said. “We hope to have another successful event
this year and to once again bring business to our local restaurants that
have been feeling the strains of this pandemic.”
Mr. Papineau
added the intent is for the cook-off to return to its traditional format at
the Dulles State Office Building as soon as conditions allow. However, the
modified format is expected to be incorporated into how the cook-off is
celebrated in future years.
“We love the
excitement and energy that this modified format has created
and we don’t want to lose that,” said Mr. Papineau. “Our hope is that
enthusiasm will only continue to grow.”
This year’s
cook-off will run from Tuesday, Feb. 1, through Monday, Feb. 28, during
regular operating hours for each location. Details are available on the
cook-off page of the VTC website, www.volunteertransportationcenter.org/chili-cook-off . Those wanting
to cast votes will be able to do so in person by paper ballot or online
through the VTC website. The entry with the most votes will get a special
plaque denoting them winner of the special edition People’s Choice Award.
In addition, thanks to the generosity of Lake Ontario Cattle Company,
Chaumont, the winner will also receive 75 pounds of ground beef.
Participating
restaurants will be able to win a Top Fundraiser Award by collecting
donations for the Volunteer Transportation Center. The participating team
with the highest amount raised will receive this special recognition.
The 23rd Annual
North Country Chili Cook-Off is supported by “Underwriting Level Sponsors”
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Watertown Savings Bank, Stewart’s Shops/The Dake Family Foundation, Glenn and Carol Pearsall
Adirondack Foundation, United Food Service Operators, WWNY-TV 7News/Fox28/MeTV, Tunes 92.5/Intrepid Broadcasting, Runningboards Marketing, NNY360/Watertown Daily Times,
Victory Promotions, and The American Legion Family.
Additional
support comes from “Platinum Level Sponsors” AmeriCU
Credit Union, Black Horse Group, Price Chopper, Samaritan Medical Center
and Watertown Internists; “Gold Level Sponsors” Advanced Business Systems,
Benefit Services Group, Bradley’s Military, Carthage Area Hospital, Colello
Air Technologies, GYMO Architecture Engineering & Land Surveying,
Keller Williams-Amy Kenney, Key Bank, Kinney Drugs Foundation, Knowlton
Technologies, Lake Ontario Cattle Company, Massey’s Furniture Barn, North
Country Insurance Company, Northwestern Mutual-Steven B. Yelle, Rose & Kiernan Insurance, State CS Employee
Federal Credit Union, The ARC of Jefferson-St. Lawrence, The Bonadio Group. and Waite Toyota; “Silver Level
Sponsors” American Legion Post 1788, American Legion Post 583, American
Legion Post 588 SAL, American Legion Post 789 Auxiliary, Barrett Paving
Materials Inc., Carthage Savings & Loan, Cheney Tire, RBC Wealth
Management, DOCO Quick Print, Fuller Insurance Agency, GEICO Insurance,
Hospice of Jefferson County, Ives Hill Retirement Community, Lake Ontario
Realty, Slack Chemical Company, Transitional Living Services of NNY,
Watertown Hearing Aid Center, and Westelcom; and
“Friends of the Cook-Off Sponsors” Jade Stone Engineering and Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 7227 Auxiliary.
For more
information about the 23rd Annual North Country Chili Cook-Off, contact Mr.
Papineau at 315-303-2590 or via email at jeremiah@volunteertransportation.org . Additional
information is available on-line at www.volunteertransportationcenter.org/chili-cook-off .
ABOUT THE
VOLUNTEER TRANSPORTATION CENTER
The Volunteer
Transportation Center, Inc. (VTC), established in 1991, drives thousands of
miles each year assisting community members in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties. Over the last 30 years,
this essential non-profit organization has provided rides to health care
appointments, grocery shopping, and other destinations for residents.
In 2020, our
volunteer drivers provided 24,926 charitable trips over 913,921 miles in
Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties. Of
those miles, 404,009 originated in Jefferson County, 146,376 in Lewis
County, and 363,536 in St. Lawrence County. Data for 2021 is currently
being compiled.
The staff, Board
of Directors and volunteer drivers look forward to a time when
transportation to community activities and services is accessible to all
North Country residents regardless of economic or specialized needs. But
for now the mission drives on — striving to
provide transportation to health, wellness and critical needs destinations
utilizing volunteers and mobility management for anyone who has barriers to
transportation.
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