What will I need to bring?

May I cook my food ahead of time?

What time should we arrive at the track on the day of the Gumbo Chili Showdown?

What is provided?

May we decorate our tent?

What is the People’s Choice Award?

A company wants to sponsor my team.

What should I wear?

Is it going to rain?

Do I need a Food Handler’s Permit?

What happens at the Head Chef’s meeting?

Will we have access to electricity?

Where do I park?

How do we unload our equipment?

What will I need to bring?
You will need a cooker with propane (enough for 8 cooking hours), pot & lid, and cooking utensils. The equipment should be large enough for cooking 10 gallons of chili or gumbo. 60qt pot vendors can be found on the Head Chef’s group page. Teams may bring their own drinks in an ice chest and chairs.

May I cook my food ahead of time?
You may make the roux or stock, chop/sauté vegetables, or brown your meat the night before. They individual pieces must be brought in separate containers to the cook-off. Please, be aware of health department rules regarding cooling cooked food to below 41OF and reheating the food to 140OF.

What time should we arrive at the track on the day of the Gumbo Chili Showdown?
Cooking starts between 6 and 8am Saturday and ends at 12pm! Be ready to serve visitors and judges by 11:30AM.

What is provided?
We will provide breakfast, plastic gloves, bowls, plastic flatware, napkins, tables, and tents. Sorry, rice will not be provided this year. We will have live music again this year!

May we decorate our tent?
We encourage all teams to decorate their tents and tables. Last year’s Best Decorated Award winners even came in costume!

What is the People’s Choice Award?
The People’s Choice Award is the attendees’ opportunity to select their favorite gumbo or chili. The team that collects the most money at the event wins the People’s Choice Award. Money may be donated by attendees (or contestants) or collected by teams by selling raffle tickets. Money raised goes to the Regan Robinson Young Scholarship.

A company wants to sponsor my team.
Student teams are allowed to have a company cover the cost of participating in the Showdown. The teams will be responsible for recognizing their sponsors.

What should I wear?
Last year, the weather was warm and a little wet. Please wear comfortable clothes as you will be on location for about 8 hours. The track area is sand and grass; high heel shoes are not advised. Many teams last year made team shirts or came in costumes to compliment their table decorations!

Is it going to rain?
This is an outdoor event. It will go on rain or shine. We have no rain location. We picked the end of February/beginning of March because of historically little rain. It did rain before our event last year, but that did not dampen our spirit! Should the weather become dangerous for our attendees, teams, and staff; we will wait the weather out under the walkways of the Mitchell Center.

What happens at the Head Chef’s meeting?
The Head Chef’s Meeting will be held at the Allied Health Building on the University of South Alabama’s Main Campus on Tuesday March 22nd at 5:15PM. View the map by clicking here. At this meeting, you will turn in your exam certificate for a Food Handler’s Permit, review the Showdown rules, get your tent and table assignments, and have all other questions answered. Attendance is mandatory for the team Head Chef!

Do I need a Food Handler’s Permit?
One member of each team needs a food handler’s permit. Permits from last year should still be valid.  If no team member has a permit, then take your food handler’s course online at Safeway Classes by CLICKING HERE. You may use your driver’s license number or the last 4 digit of your social security number to register on the website.  Bring the certificate to the Head Chef’s meeting with your ID to obtain your permit. Teams pay for the online course and the Showdown will cover the Health Dept Permit fee. You may get your license at any other class offered by the health department at your own cost.

Will we have access to electricity?
We will not have power outlets available to the teams. Generators and batteries for running equipment are not allowed due to space and safety concerns.

Where do I park?
Team parking is in the Gamma Hall parking lot. The entrance is down stadium drive, next to Stanky Field. We will have the route clearly marked. This parking lot allows easy access to the field. Parking at the Mitchell Center is unavailable due to another event.

How do we unload our equipment?
Due to room constraints this year, only one car will be allowed onto the track to unload Saturday morning. The track is accessible from the Gamma Hall parking lot.