February 18, 2011

Chili Cook-off Postponed Due to High Winds

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For the first time in the Ithaca Chili Cook-off’s 13-year history, the event has been cancelled Saturday due to concerns about high gusts of wind in the area.

“The main reason was the high winds,” said Matt Riis, Marketing and Events Manager for the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, which organizes the Chili Cook-off. “It wasn’t really the cold that was an issue, it was the danger of flying tents.”

The Downtown Ithaca Alliance made the decision to cancel the event at around midnight after consulting with the City of Ithaca and the National Weather Service, Riis said.

Riis said that the event would proceed as planned on Sunday, citing weather reports calling for moderate winds.

Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca was one of the over 30 restaurants that planned on participating in the event Saturday. Neil Minnis, owner of Moosewood Restaurant, says that the restaurant prepared “lots of chili” in anticipation of the event, but would not speculate as to an exact amount.

Minnis said that people that were set on having chili this afternoon have been coming into his restaurant and ordering it from the menu. Menu planners would find uses for all the leftover chili, he said.

“It’s good chili,” Minnis said. “I’m hoping to take some home myself.”

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Original Author: Sun Staff