On the heels of a very successful “A Taste of Chili Cook-Off,” in 2011, the Pike County United Way is once again throwing down the gauntlet.

The challenge has been made and 16 agencies supported by the Pike County United Way have answered. Other groups and individuals are invited to put their chili in the pot.

“We want to encourage everyone to enter the United Way’s ‘A Taste of Chili Cook-Off,” said Kim May, a member of the chili cook-off committee. “The chili cook-off was our largest fundraiser last year and made it possible for us to provide more financial assistance to local agencies that support our community.”

May said not only is the chili cook-off an important fundraising event, it’s also a time for the Pike County community to come together in fun and fellowship.

“Last year was the first year for this fundraising event and everyone had a good time tasting a variety of chili recipes and casting their votes for their favorite,” May said. “The chili cook-off is a ‘good tasting’ time for all.”

The Pike County United Way “A Taste of Chili Cook-Off” will be at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Park Memorial United Methodist Church.

“The rules are simple,” May said. “Each entry should be one gallon of made-from-scratch chili. You can add beans, rice, pasta, whatever to the chili and you can have extra toppings to enhance the flavor of your chili. And, if you want to decorate your table to add something extra to your presentation, you may do that, too.”

Bowls, napkins and spoons will be provided for the tasters.

The chili cook-off will feature two types of judging, the People’s Choice and the Judges’ Choice.

“For the People’s Choice award, each person who wants to be a judge will pay a dollar at the door,” May said. “They may taste as many entries as they want and then vote. If they want to vote again, they will have to pay a dollar for each additional vote.”

The People’s Choice award will be presented to the three entrants with the most votes.

“We will also have a panel of judges that will judge the entries and select the three top winners,” May said. “So, there will be two different opportunities to win in this year’s chili cook-off.”

The entry fee for the 2012 “A Taste of Chili Cook-Off” is $25 and should be made payable to the Pike County United Way. To enter, send your name, address and telephone number and entry fee to the Pike County United Way, P.O. Box 204, Troy, AL 36081 or take your entry to the South Alabama Gas District Office on East Walnut Street in Troy or the American Red Cross Office on S.A. Graham Boulevard in Brundidge.