Houstonist Was There: No Holds Barred Chili Cookoff

The Second Annual No Holds Barred Chili Cookoff took place this past weekend at Shady Tavern in the Heights. Between the all-you-can-eat chili, cold beers, great weather and the Red River Shootout on TV, it was the place to be.

Of the twelve teams that competed, the four judges unanimously awarded the Overall Winner prize to last year's champions, Chili Kings (a team incongruously comprised of mostly women), which came with a cash prize of nearly $900. Prizes for Spiciest Chili, Most Original Chili and People's Choice were also awarded in front of a rowdy crowd of hundreds. Afterwards, the Zydeco Dots took the stage and played us into the night with the sweet smell of barbeque and chili still lingering in the air.

In addition to chili, many teams were also serving up delicious sides of summer sausage, pickled carrots, cornbread, jalapeno sausage and beer-butt chicken. Teams like Hunka-Hunka-Burnin Chili, Yo Mama's Chili, Tits n Tails Chili, and Sexual Chili also worked the crowd with various tent decorations and costumes (as seen below).

If you didn't make it out to the chili cookoff next year, you're in luck! We'll be there again next year, bowls and spoons (and camera!) at the ready.