Crank up the heat, and that’s when you can tell the men/women from the boys/girls.

And that’s exactly what happened at the first annual Tri-Ed San Antonio Chili Cook Off. Because the competition was hot for first-time chili cooker-offer (cooker-offer – a new phrase but a good one), Phillip Baker and his team.

Luckily Phillip had the Los Chileros double-whammy of Chile Molido (hot) and Chimayo powder in his pot. The result? Phillip’s team beat the competition to grab the coveted crown. Phillip tips his hat to Los C and says, “I think the real secret, in addition to the powder, was the fact that I ground up all the meat the night before. Fresh ground just tastes better I think.”

Phillip you got that right.

So Phillip and his team can now add another feather to their chili cap – the Golden Chile. No prize money but lots of bragging rights. Congrats Phillip and best of luck next year.

You’ve got someone you think deserves the Golden Chile? Someone who has gone the extra culinary mile to make the chile star shine a bit brighter? Let us know because maybe—just maybe—they’ll be our next Golden Chile winner.