COMPETITOR

Chili Rocks

HEAD COOK: Geo Phelps

COMPETITION: World Open Chili Championship

QUALIFYING EVENT: World Open Chili Championship

After a career as a Cincinnati Fire Fighter for over 30 years, I decided to take on my second love, and that is cooking. Throughout my career, I had the chance to work with some of the best fire house cooks, and modified their recipes to fit my own style. Something fire fighters are known for is chili, and so I started competing in cook-offs locally, and then across the country. I was determined that my unusual style of cooking using a wide assortment of veggies would win over the judges, but all I got was the kiss of death when the public love it but rarely the judges. At one point, a judge made a comment that "it is more like a stew than a chili" so I named my chili "Stewhili". After many years of my own style, I tried conforming with the cookie cutter style, and started getting points and positive comments. Once I was forced to retired due to multiple injuries, I decided to turn my hobby into a business expanding my chili competition booth name CHILI ROCK CAFE into a business. While going through the trademarking process, I received a letter from a major International company with a similar name. I was forced to then change my company name to CHILI ROCKS which actually turned out better because CHILI ROCKS is not only a company name but a company statement. Now I have over 50 locations across the world that don't exist but have the t-shirts to prove it. I run into people from around the world who buy t-shirts from me, modify the logo to make it any city in the world! So as an individual, I have made the appearance that I am a huge International Company. About 4 years ago, I made the first step by bottling 4 BBQ Sauces, and now have over 40 sauces covering all aspects of culinary needs. My products are offered under the Chili Rocks brand, and currently sold in over 30 retail locations in 4 states. I am also in the process of developing various styles of chilies, and working with a local canner to make several new chilies available on the market. Over the years, I would wake up in the middle of the night with recipe ideas, and would either write them or type them in my iPhone. The following morning I would see what I came up with, and experiment on my fellow fire fighters to see what they thought. In 2013, I was invited to participate in the 2013 World Food Championship, and it has increased my love and appreciation of food and cooking. On my return flight, I fell asleep for 10 minutes on the flight, and woke with 3 new recipes and the title for my first cookbook "MidNight Inspirations". It looked forward to returning in 2014 to the WFC, but still felt that my hands were tied with limiting to a Bowl Of Chili! I feel that Chili should not be limited, but should allow for creativity like all of the other food categories! Now 2015 has hit, and look out WFC because CHILI ROCKS THE WORLD!