The Manteca Transit Center will be filled with aroma of chili cook-off samplings from 14 of Manteca’s best cooks including Manteca Fire Department Captain Travis Gooch who is bringing his sumptuous recipes right out of the firehouse kitchen. 

It’s all part of the Second Harvest Chili Pot Cook Off.

Proceeds will help the food bank in its efforts to assist 35,000 people each month in the Northern San Joaquin Valley by serving as a supplier for more than 100 food pantries.

Admission is $10. Contestants can either cook their chili Friday night or Saturday morning, according to Second Harvest spokeswoman Jessica Vaughan. 

The taste-tempting chili sampling fundraiser is set for Saturday, Aug. 11, at 5:30 p.m. in the Manteca Transit Center on Moffat Boulevard at South Main Street. The number of chefs allowed in the competition has been set at 14 with only six spaces available as of Tuesday.  Cost to enter is $30 until Aug. 1 when it will be increased to $40. 

Cash prizes will be awarded to the first second and third place finishers and for the Peoples’ Choice award.  Vaughan said there are spaces open for both professional and non-professional chefs. 

The funds raised at the event will go specifically to support the Senior Brown Bag and Food For Thought programs that serve the needy seniors and children in the community.  The first prize winner last year was Code Three Grill and the Peoples’ Choice award went to Tricia McGathy with her Chili Verde creation.

There will be a live auction and silent auction and raffle.  Tickets are available on the Second Harvest Food Bank website (localfoodbank.org) or at the food bank in Manteca’s Industrial Park on Industrial Park Drive.

Judges for the event include Dillon George of PG&E, Manteca Councilman Rich Silverman, Mayor Steve DeBrum, Charles Paz and Tony Dhaliwal.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.